The Federal Government has officially discontinued the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship program, a long-running foreign study scheme for Nigerian students, citing poor value for money and lack of impact.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the decision on Tuesday in Abuja during a visit by newly elected officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). He described the BEA as “unfair” and an “inefficient use of public resources,” noting that many of the courses sponsored abroad under the scheme are available in Nigerian universities.
“When I assumed office in 2024, I was asked to approve N650 million for just 60 students going to Morocco. I refused. It’s not fair to the majority of Nigerian students,” Alausa said.
He also criticized the attitude of some BEA beneficiaries, accusing them of resorting to social media blackmail over delayed payments. While many of the scholars had complained of being abandoned, the government recently clarified that all allowances were paid up to December 2024.
The BEA programme, created through partnerships with countries like China, Russia, Hungary, Morocco, and Egypt, offered Nigerian students the opportunity to study abroad on full scholarships. However, Alausa revealed that the programme lacked proper monitoring, with students receiving annual travel benefits without academic checks.
“In 2025 alone, the FG planned to spend N9 billion on only 1,200 students. Meanwhile, millions of students here in Nigeria get no support. That’s not just,” he stated.
He added that students had been sent to French-speaking countries like Algeria to study English, Psychology, and Sociology—courses that are widely available and better taught in Nigerian institutions.
The minister confirmed that existing beneficiaries will be allowed to complete their studies, but the BEA scheme will not continue beyond 2025.
“We are cancelling the BEA. The funds will now be redirected to support local scholarships that can benefit many more Nigerian students,” Alausa concluded.
In response, NANS President Olushola Oladoja praised the minister’s reforms and pledged student support for policies that prioritize wider access to quality education in Nigeria.
