The Federal Government has rejected as false and misleading reports suggesting that Nigerian students studying in Morocco under government scholarship schemes have been abandoned, describing the claims as deliberately designed to misinform the public.
In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, clarified that no Nigerian student benefiting from a valid Federal Government scholarship has been neglected.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has clarified that no Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been abandoned. All beneficiaries duly enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme prior to 2024 have received payments up to the 2024 budget year, in line with the Federal Government’s obligations,” the statement said.
The ministry explained that any short-term delays in settling outstanding entitlements were the result of fiscal pressures currently affecting government finances, adding that discussions between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance are ongoing to resolve the issues.
It further clarified that no new bilateral scholarship awards were granted in October 2025 or at any point after that date, stressing that documents being circulated online to suggest otherwise are fake, unauthenticated, and part of an attempt to undermine public confidence in government policies.
According to the statement, Dr Alausa explained that the decision to discontinue government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad was taken after a thorough policy review. The review, he said, showed that Nigeria now has adequate capacity within its universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to offer the programmes previously pursued overseas.
As a result, the Federal Government has limited its support to scholarships fully financed by foreign governments, with host countries now bearing the entire financial responsibility for such programmes.
The government reaffirmed that students already enrolled under the old bilateral arrangements would continue to receive support until they complete their studies. It also noted that students who wish to withdraw from their programmes abroad may formally notify the Director of the Department of Scholarship Awards.
Such students, the ministry said, will be allowed to return to Nigeria and will be smoothly integrated into suitable tertiary institutions of their choice. The Federal Government also pledged to cover their return travel costs to ensure an orderly transition.
The statement added that the reforms were introduced to eliminate inefficiencies and abuses in the scholarship system, noting that previous practices which funded overseas training for courses already well established in Nigeria placed unnecessary strain on public finances.
The government reiterated that the ongoing changes are aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and responsible management of public funds.
The clarification followed a viral video on social media alleging that Nigerian students studying in Morocco under the Federal Government scholarship scheme were facing severe hardships, including homelessness and lack of access to medical care. The video, shared on X, featured activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, speaking with students who claimed they had gone years without receiving financial support despite being scholarship beneficiaries.
What you should know
The Federal Government insists that Nigerian students enrolled in Morocco under valid bilateral scholarships before 2024 have not been abandoned and have received funding up to the approved budget period.
Authorities say recent online claims are based on false documents and misunderstandings, while reforms to the scholarship system are intended to cut costs, strengthen accountability, and prioritise programmes that can now be offered locally within Nigeria’s higher education system.
