Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education
Nigerian students studying abroad under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) have planned to protest the prolonged payment of their scholarship stipend today, Monday, November 17, 2025.
According to the students, the government has yet to pay their $500 stipend this year, causing them hardship. They added that the government only paid them $220 in 2024, instead of the expected $500, emphasising that they are owed payments for September, October, November, and December 2023.
Speaking about the BEA programme, Dr Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, said, “This programme is not the best use of public funds. That money will now be used to fund local scholarships and support more students.” He elaborated that the BEA will not sponsor any student abroad beyond 2025, as it is unsustainable.
In addition, Alausa stated that the sponsorship is unfair to students studying in Nigeria, noting that the majority of student beneficiaries never return to Nigeria to contribute to national development.
