The Federal Government has dismissed reports that Nigerian students on scholarship in Morocco have been abandoned, describing the claims as “misleading and deliberately crafted to misinform the public.”
In a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, clarified that all students on valid Federal Government scholarships remain supported.
“No Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been abandoned. All beneficiaries duly enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme prior to 2024 have received payments up to the 2024 budget year, in line with the Federal Government’s obligations,” the statement read.
The ministry explained that any temporary delays in outstanding payments were due to fiscal constraints and are being addressed through ongoing engagements with the Ministry of Finance.
It further noted that no new bilateral scholarship awards were made in October 2025 or thereafter.
Documents circulating online suggesting otherwise were described as “fake, unauthenticated, and a calculated attempt to mislead the public and discredit government policy.”
Dr. Alausa said the decision to discontinue government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad followed a comprehensive policy review.
The review concluded that Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education now have sufficient capacity to deliver the affected programmes locally.
“Consequently, only scholarships fully funded by foreign governments are now being supported, with all financial obligations borne entirely by the host countries,” the statement added.
Support for Current Beneficiaries
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to ensuring that students already enrolled under previous arrangements will continue to receive support until they complete their programmes.
Students who wish to discontinue their studies abroad may formally notify the Department of Scholarship Awards.
“Such students are being offered the option of returning to Nigeria, where they will be seamlessly reintegrated into appropriate tertiary institutions of their choice. The Federal Government will also cover their return travel costs to ensure a smooth and orderly transition,” the statement said.
The government stressed that reforms in the scholarship system are aimed at eliminating inefficiencies and abuses.
It noted that past practices of sponsoring overseas training for courses already available in Nigeria placed avoidable financial burdens on the nation.
The ministry reaffirmed that the ongoing reforms are designed to promote transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources.
The clarification followed a viral video on social media showing Nigerian students in Morocco under the Federal Government scholarship scheme facing hardships, including homelessness and lack of medical support.
The video, shared on X, featured activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, speaking with several students who alleged they had not received financial support for years despite being scholarship recipients.
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