By Naomi Jeremiah
The Federal Government has dismissed claims that Nigerian students studying in Morocco under its scholarship scheme have been abandoned, describing such reports as misleading and deliberately crafted to misinform the public.
The clarification followed a viral video on social media alleging that Nigerian students in Morocco were facing severe hardships, including homelessness and lack of medical support.
In a statement issued on by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that no Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been abandoned.
According to the statement, all beneficiaries enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme before 2024 have received their entitlements up to the 2024 budget year, in line with the government’s obligations.
The minister explained that any temporary delays in outstanding payments were due to fiscal constraints and are currently being addressed through ongoing engagements between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.
Dr. Alausa further clarified that no new bilateral scholarship awards were made in October 2025 or at any time thereafter, adding that documents circulating online to suggest otherwise are fake and unauthenticated.
He noted that the decision to discontinue government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad followed a comprehensive policy review, which found that Nigeria now has sufficient capacity within its universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to offer the affected programmes locally.
As a result, only scholarships fully funded by foreign governments are now being supported, with all financial obligations borne entirely by the host countries.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to students already enrolled under previous arrangements, assuring that they will continue to receive support until the completion of their programmes.
It also stated that students who wish to discontinue their studies abroad may formally apply to the Director, Department of Scholarship Awards, and will be given the option to return to Nigeria, where they will be seamlessly reintegrated into suitable tertiary institutions. The government added that return travel costs will be covered to ensure a smooth transition.
The statement emphasized that the ongoing reforms are aimed at eliminating inefficiencies and abuses in the scholarship system, promoting transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources.
The government’s response comes after a video shared on X showed activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, speaking with Nigerian students in Morocco who claimed they had not received financial support for years despite being scholarship recipients.
Culled from: Channels Tv