The Federal Government has firmly dismissed widespread reports alleging that Nigerian scholarship students studying in Morocco have been abandoned by their sponsors, stressing that such narratives are “false, unfounded, and deliberately crafted to misinform the public.” The clarification comes amid growing online concern over videos and accounts circulating that showed beleaguered students claiming neglect and hardship.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, categorically rejected the claims, emphasising that no Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been abandoned in Morocco or elsewhere.
“No Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been abandoned,” Dr. Alausa said through Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations for the ministry. “All beneficiaries duly enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship Programme prior to 2024 have been paid in line with government obligations.”
The ministry clarified that scholarship beneficiaries under the Bilateral Education Scholarship (BES) Programme, which supports Nigerian students abroad through bilateral agreements with partner countries, have received their stipends and entitlements up to the 2024 budget year.
Dr. Alausa acknowledged that some outstanding payments have experienced delays, but attributed these to prevailing fiscal constraints affecting public finances nationwide. He said the situation is being actively addressed through engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance to ensure timely disbursement of funds to students.
“Any temporary delay in payments is a result of prevailing fiscal realities and is being addressed through ongoing engagements,” the minister explained, underscoring that such delays do not equate to abandonment.
The Federal Government also moved to debunk claims circulating online that new bilateral scholarship awards were issued in October 2025 or afterward. Dr. Alausa described related documents and assertions as “fake, unauthenticated, and intended to mislead the public and discredit government policy.”
“No new bilateral scholarship awards were issued in October 2025 or beyond,” he said, emphasising that any suggestion otherwise was misinformation.
Officials noted that the decision to discontinue Federal Government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad was the result of a comprehensive policy review that found Nigeria now has sufficient educational capacity within domestic institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, to deliver the programmes previously pursued overseas.
Under the revised framework, New Nigeria will only support scholarships fully funded by foreign governments, with host countries bearing financial responsibilities such as tuition, accommodation, and living expenses for participating students.
Despite the policy shift, Dr. Alausa reiterated the Federal Government’s continued commitment to students currently enrolled under existing arrangements, pledging that they will receive support until the completion of their programmes.
The ministry also said that students who choose to discontinue their studies abroad may formally apply to return to Nigeria. Those wishing to transfer will be reintegrated into appropriate local tertiary institutions, and the government will cover their return travel costs to ensure a smooth transition.
The government’s detailed rebuttal follows viral social media posts, including a video featuring activist Martins Otse (also known as VeryDarkMan), in which some Nigerian students in Morocco claimed they were left without financial support, leading to hardship and uncertainty. Critics also cited reports suggesting long-standing unpaid stipends and challenging living conditions faced by Nigerian BEA scholars abroad, including in Morocco.
However, the Federal Ministry of Education maintains that these portrayals do not reflect the full picture and insists that official policy and the welfare of students remain on course.
