By Emmanuel Nduka
The Nigerian Government has announced the termination of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme, which has long supported Nigerian students studying at foreign universities.
The country’s Education Minister, Morufu Alausa cited improved standards in domestic higher education and limited public funds as the main reasons for ending the programme.
“Courses Nigerians study abroad through the BEA are now widely available and often better within our universities and polytechnics,” Alausa said in a statement on Thursday. “We can no longer justify spending public funds on overseas education when viable local alternatives exist,” he added.
He added that current scholarship recipients will continue to receive funding until they complete their studies.
The decision comes amid ongoing economic reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu since he took office in May 2023.
These reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and a liberalized exchange rate, have triggered inflation but are intended to stabilize public finances in the long term.
While the International Monetary Fund (IMF) supports the reforms, it recently noted that poverty and food insecurity remain pressing concerns for many Nigerians.
The government says redirecting funds from the BEA scheme will help bolster local universities and improve access to quality education within Nigeria.
