 Scholarship Programme, citing the need){kind=link}
The Federal Government has officially discontinued the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme, citing the need to channel public funds toward strengthening domestic tertiary institutions.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, during a press briefing in Abuja. He said the decision followed a comprehensive policy review aimed at prioritising investment in Nigeria’s homegrown educational capacity.
“Every course Nigerians travel abroad to study through the BEA is now available—and often of higher quality—within our own universities and polytechnics,” Dr. Alausa stated. “It is no longer justifiable to fund overseas studies with public resources when local alternatives exist.”
According to the Minister, the move is part of a broader fiscal strategy designed to ensure fairness and maximise the impact of limited government resources.
“The costs involved in sponsoring students abroad, including airfare, stipends, tuition, and living allowances, are better redirected into strengthening local institutions where more Nigerians can benefit,” he explained.
However, Dr. Alausa clarified that the Federal Government remains receptive to fully funded foreign scholarship offers under bilateral or multilateral partnerships.
“These offers must comprehensively cover tuition, accommodation, transportation, healthcare, living expenses, and include a monthly allowance of no less than $500—without any financial burden on the Nigerian government,” he said.
He assured that students currently benefiting from the BEA Programme will not be affected by the policy shift. “We will honour all existing commitments,” the Minister affirmed.
Dr. Alausa emphasised that other domestic scholarship initiatives remain