The Federal Government of Nigeria has abruptly terminated the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme, sparking outrage and despair among hundreds of Nigerian students studying abroad under the scheme.
The BEA Programme, which was managed by the Federal Ministry of Education, provided funding for Nigerian students to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in countries such as Russia, China, Hungary, and Egypt through bilateral agreements. The programme had been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s educational diplomacy for decades, offering students from disadvantaged backgrounds access to high-quality education overseas.
However, in a statement released this week, the Ministry announced the immediate suspension and phasing out of the BEA programme, citing "budgetary constraints, policy realignment, and ongoing efforts to reform scholarship disbursement structures" as reasons for the decision.
This move has left current beneficiaries of the scholarship programme in limbo. Reports indicate that many students have not received their stipends in several months, leaving them unable to afford housing, food, and tuition in host countries. In some cases, students are at risk of deportation or expulsion due to unpaid fees.
“I haven’t received any funds in over five months. I’m struggling to survive here,” said one Nigerian student studying in Russia, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal. “We were promised support from our government, but now we’ve been abandoned.”
Parents, civil society groups, and education advocates have condemned the decision and are urging the government to urgently provide relief to affected students and reconsider the termination of a programme that has empowered thousands of Nigerian youths over the years.
“This is not just a bureaucratic policy change — it is a humanitarian crisis in the making,” said Dr. Halima Adeyemi, an education rights advocate. “The government must act swiftly to honor its commitments and protect its citizens abroad.”