The Federal Government has dismissed reports alleging that Nigerian scholarship students in the Kingdom of Morocco have been abandoned, describing the claims as false, misleading, and deliberately intended to misinform the public.
In a press release issued on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, clarified that no Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been neglected. He explained that 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 government commitments.
According to the minister, any delays in outstanding payments are a result of fiscal constraints and are currently being resolved through engagements between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance. He assured affected students that the government remains committed to meeting its obligations.
Dr. Alausa also refuted claims that new bilateral scholarship awards were granted in October 2025 or thereafter, stating that documents circulating to support such claims are fake and unauthenticated. He described them as a calculated attempt to discredit government policy and mislead the public.
The minister explained that the Federal Government discontinued funding for bilateral scholarships abroad following a policy review which showed that Nigerian tertiary institutions now have the capacity to offer the affected programmes locally. As a result, only scholarships fully funded by foreign governments are currently being supported, with all financial responsibilities borne by host countries.
Despite the policy shift, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to students already enrolled under the previous arrangements and pledged continued support until the completion of their programmes. Students who wish 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 ministry reiterated its resolve to reform the scholarship system, eliminate inefficiencies, and ensure transparency and prudent use of public funds, while warning against misinformation aimed at undermining the integrity of the education sector.
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