The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students studying abroad under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme.
The BEA Programme, which is a product of strong diplomatic relations and mutual cooperation, have enabled Nigerian students to pursue academic studies in partner countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia.
Through these agreements, host countries provide beneficiaries with free tuition, accommodation, and monthly stipends, while the Federal Government of Nigeria complements the support with take-off grants, monthly supplementation throughout the study period and return passage upon successful completion of the programmes.
The Ministry, according to a statement by Boriowo Folasade, Director Press and Public Relations, is pleased to report that all supplementary allowances due to Nigerian scholars have been paid up to December 2024.
This, it said, reflected the Honourable Minister of Education’s sustained efforts to prioritise the needs of Nigerian students abroad.
The Ministry however acknowledged that recent exchange rate fluctuations led to shortfalls in fund disbursement.
To address the issue, the statement said that the Honourable Minister has formally requested additional funding to cover the differentials and ensure the full remittance of entitlements to all affected students.
"Looking ahead, provisions for the scholarship programme have been captured under the Federal Ministry of Education’s Capital Budget. In line with the extension of the 2024 Capital Budget, disbursement of funds under the 2025 Capital Budget is expected to commence in earnest once implementation begins.
"The Ministry assures all stakeholders of its unwavering commitment to supporting Nigerian scholars abroad and is working diligently to meet all obligations under the BEA in a timely and effective manner.
"We sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding of all students and their families and reaffirm our dedication to the continued success of the Bilateral Education Agreement Programme." the statement stated