FG Denies Abandoning Nigerian Students in Morocco, Disowns New Scholarship Awards

T The Federal Government has dismissed claims that Nigerian students on scholarship in the Kingdom of Morocco have been abandoned, describing such reports as false, misleading, and deliberately crafted to misinform the public.

It also categorically denied issuing any new bilateral scholarship awards in 2025.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said no Nigerian student enrolled under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme before 2024 has been abandoned, stressing that all legitimate beneficiaries have been paid up to the 2024 budget year.

“No Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been abandoned. All beneficiaries enrolled under the BES Programme prior to 2024 have received payments up to the 2024 budget year,” Alausa said.

He explained that any delays in outstanding disbursements were due to fiscal constraints, noting that the issue is being addressed through ongoing engagements between the Ministries of Education and Finance.

The minister further clarified that no bilateral scholarship awards were made in October 2025 or at any time thereafter, disowning documents circulating online to the contrary.

“Documents being circulated to suggest new scholarship awards are fake, unauthenticated, and calculated to mislead the public and discredit government policy,” he stated.

Alausa explained that the decision to discontinue government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad followed a comprehensive policy review, which established that Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education now have sufficient capacity to offer the affected programmes locally.

“Nigeria now has adequate institutional capacity to deliver these programmes at home. Continuing to fund such courses abroad places avoidable financial burdens on the nation,” the minister said.

He added that only scholarships fully funded by foreign governments are now being supported, with all financial obligations borne entirely by the host countries.

Despite the policy shift, Alausa assured that the Federal Government remains committed to students already enrolled under previous arrangements and will continue to support them until the completion of their studies.

“Our commitment to students already enrolled remains unwavering. They will be supported until they complete their programmes,” he assured.

The minister also disclosed that students who choose to withdraw from their overseas programmes may formally apply to the Director, Department of Scholarship Awards, and will be reintegrated into appropriate tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“Such students will be seamlessly reintegrated into suitable Nigerian institutions, and the Federal Government will cover their return travel costs to ensure a smooth transition,” he said.

Alausa stressed that the ongoing reforms are aimed at improving efficiency, enhancing transparency, and preventing the misuse of public funds, particularly in sponsoring overseas studies for courses already available within Nigeria.

He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students and warned against misinformation or attempts to undermine reforms in the education sector.