- Reports of Abandoned Nigerian Students in Morocco Are False – FG
- Dr. Alausa also debunked claims that new bilateral scholarships were awarded in October 2025
- Says reforms are part of broader efforts to eliminate inefficiencies and abuse within the scholarship system
The Federal Government has dismissed claims that Nigerian scholarship students in the Kingdom of Morocco have been abandoned, describing the reports as false, misleading, and deliberately crafted to misinform the public.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, clarified that no Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been neglected, stressing that all beneficiaries enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme before 2024 have received funding up to the 2024 budget year.
EDITOR’S PICK
- Tax Reform Criticism Politically Motivated – NRS Boss
- Gumi Claims He Was Listed for Elimination After U.S. Airstrike
- Bolade Adeshina Speaks on Love, Marriage
According to the minister, any outstanding payments are the result of temporary fiscal constraints and are currently being addressed through ongoing engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.
Dr. Alausa also debunked claims that new bilateral scholarships were awarded in October 2025 or afterwards, stating that no such approvals were made. He described documents circulating to support the claims as fake and unauthenticated, warning that they were aimed at discrediting government policy.
The minister explained that the Federal Government discontinued government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad following a comprehensive policy review, which found that Nigeria now has adequate capacity within its universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to offer the affected programmes locally.
As a result, only foreign-funded scholarships, where host countries bear the full financial responsibility, are now being supported.
Despite the policy shift, Dr. Alausa assured that the government remains fully committed to students already enrolled under previous arrangements and will continue to support them until they complete their programmes.
He added that students who wish to discontinue their studies abroad may formally apply to the Director, Department of Scholarship Awards, noting that such students would be reintegrated into suitable Nigerian tertiary institutions. The Federal Government, he said, will also cover their return travel costs.
Dr. Alausa said the reforms are part of broader efforts to eliminate inefficiencies and abuse within the scholarship system, noting that past practices of sponsoring overseas training for courses already available in Nigeria imposed avoidable financial burdens on the country.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students, while rejecting what it described as misinformation, blackmail, and attempts to undermine reforms aimed at strengthening national capacity and ensuring transparency in the education sector.
FURTHER READING
- Paris Meeting: Tinubu, Kagame Confer on World Affairs, Africa’s Interests
- Ikosi-Ejinrin Chairman Calls for Massive Participation in APC E-Registration
- World Braille Day: Oluremi Tinubu Calls for Digital Inclusion
Click here to watch video of the week
