The Federal Government has dismissed claims that Nigerian students on scholarship in the Kingdom of Morocco have been abandoned, calling the reports false, misleading, and deliberately intended to misinform the public.
The statement was issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.
Boriowo noted that Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, clarified that no Nigerian student on a valid federal government scholarship had been neglected. All beneficiaries enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme before 2024 had received their entitlements up to the 2024 budget year, in line with government commitments.
The minister explained that any delays in outstanding payments were due to fiscal constraints and are being addressed through ongoing engagements between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance. He assured affected students that the government remains committed to fulfilling its obligations.
Alausa also refuted claims that new bilateral scholarship awards were granted in October 2025 or thereafter, stating that the documents circulating to support such claims were fake and unauthenticated. He described them as a calculated attempt to discredit government policy and mislead the public.
The minister said the federal government discontinued funding for bilateral scholarships abroad after a policy review showed that Nigerian tertiary institutions now have the capacity to offer the affected programmes locally. Only scholarships fully funded by foreign governments are now supported, with all financial obligations borne entirely by the host countries.
Despite this policy shift, Alausa affirmed that the government remains committed to supporting students already enrolled under previous arrangements until they complete their programmes. He added that students wishing to discontinue their studies abroad may apply to return to Nigeria, where they will be reintegrated into suitable institutions, with the government covering their return travel costs.
The minister reiterated the ministry’s commitment to reforming the scholarship system, eliminating inefficiencies, and ensuring transparency and prudent use of public funds. He also warned against the spread of misinformation aimed at undermining the integrity of the education sector.
