The Federal Government has announced the full payment of all supplementary allowances owed to Nigerian scholars studying under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme up to December 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade.
According to the statement, BEA scholars currently studying in China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia have all received their outstanding payments. It added that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had earlier sought additional funding to address the shortfalls caused by recent exchange rate fluctuations.
The Ministry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students abroad, stating:
“The Ministry is pleased to report that all supplementary allowances due to Nigerian scholars have been paid up to December 2024. This reflects the Honourable Minister of Education’s sustained efforts to prioritise the needs of Nigerian students abroad.”
It acknowledged that exchange rate volatility had led to shortfalls in previous disbursements. However, the Minister has formally requested further funds to cover these differentials and ensure complete remittance to affected students.
The statement further explained that the BEA Scholarship Programme has been included in the Ministry’s Capital Budget, and with the extension of the 2024 Capital Budget, disbursements under the 2025 Capital Budget are expected to commence promptly once implementation begins.
The Ministry assured all stakeholders of its continuous dedication to supporting Nigerian scholars and pledged to meet all BEA obligations promptly and effectively.
“We sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding of all students and their families, and we reaffirm our commitment to the continued success of the Bilateral Education Agreement Programme,” the statement added.
