₦airaland Forum

The federal government has discontinued the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship programme.

Tunji Alausa, the education minister, spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during a visit by newly elected officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

Nigeria has had a bilateral education agreement/student exchange scheme with countries in Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia.

Among these countries are Russia, China, Hungary, Morocco, Venezuela, and Algeria.

Signatory countries give annual scholarship slots to Nigeria’s federal scholarship board, which then proceeds to nominate indigenous applicants by merit.

The host country undertakes to cover tuition and provide housing for the scholars while Nigeria pays the awardees a yearly allowance of $200 for health insurance, $500 annually for medicals, and $500 in monthly stipend for nutrition, books, equipment, and transport.

TheCable earlier reported how Nigeria defaulted in paying the $500 stipend for one year, leaving young students stranded abroad.

Over the years, BEA scholars have also perennially accused the federal government of abandoning them, generating media discourse that prompted the summoning of a former education minister to the national assembly.

Alausa, while meeting with NANS in Abuja, described the BEA programme as an inefficient use of public resources.

He said many of the courses pursued abroad under the scheme were readily available in Nigerian universities.

“I was asked to approve N650 million for 60 students going to Morocco under the BEA programme when I assumed office in 2024. I refused. It’s not fair to the majority of Nigerian students,” Alausa said.

He expressed dissatisfaction with BEA beneficiaries, whom he claimed had resorted to social media “blackmail” over delayed allowances.

Alausa said the government would now redirect BEA funds toward domestic scholarship schemes to benefit a larger number of students.

“I reviewed the courses, some students were sent to Algeria, a French-speaking country, to study English, Psychology, and Sociology, programmes we offer better here in Nigeria,” he said.

He criticised the lack of academic oversight, revealing that scholars received free annual travel without proper performance monitoring.

“In 2025 alone, the government planned to spend N9 billion on just 1,200 students,” he said.

“That’s unjust when millions of students in Nigeria receive no support. Every single course these students are studying abroad is available in Nigerian universities.”

The federal government recently clarified that all supplementary allowances had been paid up to December 2024.

Alausa stressed that while current beneficiaries would be allowed to complete their programmes, the BEA scheme would not continue beyond 2025.

“We are cancelling the BEA. It is not the best use of public funds. The money will now be used to fund local scholarships and support more Nigerian students,” he said.

Source: https://www.thecable.ng/fg-discontinues-bea-scheme-to-prioritise-domestic-scholarships/

If the findings of the minister are true, then I fully support his submission. FSB, PTDF and NDDC are there for Nigerians to benefit from. Nigeria has no business sending non-STEM graduates abroad to study. STEM courses drive innovation and national development.

The FG should redirect that scholarship fund to support every first-class graduate (irrespective of their discipline) with at least N5 million to start life after school. Those in STEM whose final year projects can solve Nigeria's problems without a first class should also get the same sum. That's how you encourage competitiveness and excellence in your country.

Studying abroad is not necessarily superior, yet many people tend to underestimate the Nigerian education system. Some recipients of international scholarships end up relocating permanently or choosing to remain abroad instead of returning home to contribute to national development through their research. From my experience, Nigerians are often more intelligent, but other countries leverage our talents to advance their own development. If similar resources and funding were invested in improving our local education system, Nigeria would have made significant progress. South Africa serves as a strong example of how local investment in education can drive national development.

Countries should learn from China

They sent their students to learn from US, Germany and the rest.

Then came back and funded these student would became expert in starting up business.

Oversees training is very important

Confused country is that not how former NDDC MD put his name as beneficiary of scholarship

“We are cancelling the BEA. It is not the best use of public funds. The money will now be used to fund local scholarships and support more Nigerian students,” he said.



He make sense die.🎲

I think the minister did the right thing. I will give this one to druggie and his team. Highly commendable.

That's good

Already the scholarship has been on sentimental and biased arrangements,only favoured those big men pikin and who knows who,sidelining the original beneficials that's been set up for.The Russia-Ukraine scholarship students exposed their corruption,,imagine sons and daughters of big men been extradited back to the country who are on full scholarships

Federal Government of Thieves

The program should be STEM focused only, but for some reason, some people must add humanities so their people can benefit

By the way, many if not most of the beneficiaries JAPA after the education abroad, but Nigeria benefits from diaspora remittances sent back home to their families

SmartPolician:
Source: https://www.thecable.ng/fg-discontinues-bea-scheme-to-prioritise-domestic-scholarships/

Good one, militants and benefit children doing nothing but enjoy greedily national cake

Way to go

Nice one from Mr. Minister.

This country is no more for the poor again

I support this 100%

Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship programme is of no use to the nation. Na wayo from the beginning.

Only PTDF and NDDC scholarship make sense.

Nawa oo.

What arrant nonsense? Scholarship to study these courses? Walahi, I thought the BEA Scholarship was for STEM disciplines only.

“I reviewed the courses, some students were sent to Algeria, a French-speaking country, to study English, Psychology, and Sociology, programmes we offer better here in Nigeria,” he said.

What arrant non.sense?

“I reviewed the courses, some students were sent to Algeria, a French-speaking country, to study English, Psychology, and Sociology, programmes we offer better here in Nigeria,” he said.

Fully supported.

Only relevant courses should get scholarship.

It was just a waste of resources

kennyz247:
This country is no more for the poor again

In this context, you think the poor had access to such scholarship before .... dey play

Anything to stop the abuse is welcome.

Block all wastages.

“We are cancelling the BEA. It is not the best use of public funds. The money will now be used to fund local scholarships and support more Nigerian students,” he said.

...but retained hajj and many more laughable expenses.

Reason why North educated youths are going Gaga meanwhile South Youths nor Dey see scholarship chop ….People like kwankwaso built their political base by sending many youths to abroad on scholarships during his tenure in Kano state …

If what he said is true then it's a good decision, I give it to him, well-done sir.

That's how they have been siphoning our national resources in the name of scholarships....
They want to change formats again

Sha pay ASUU first so they can deliver on these claims

What!!!

Lamasta:
That's how they have been siphoning our national resources in the name of scholarships....
They want to change formats again

No, that option has helped the common man. Unless it has, in recent years, been abused by politicians and corrupt civil servants

He said many of the courses pursued abroad under the scheme were readily available in Nigerian universities.

So let me guess: Will his children also study in Nigeria?