The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Scholarship Board, has initiated payment for outstanding allowances owed to foreign scholars under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) scholarship program.
The BEA scholarship aims to facilitate educational exchange between Nigeria and partnering countries.
Recently, the Federal Ministry of Education announced a reduction in allowances for foreign scholars due to economic constraints.
The affected scholars, studying in countries such as Russia, Morocco, and Algeria, had been experiencing financial difficulties, with some resorting to taking loans to survive.
In a memo dated July 23, 2024, the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A., announced adjustments to the supplementation allowances for the 2024 academic year, citing budgetary provisions. The memo was addressed to the scholars’ association.
According to Ronald Donald, a leader of the scholars’ association in Russia, the scholars are aware that a payment mandate has been sent to the relevant embassies, indicating that the outstanding allowances will be paid.
This development follows consultations and efforts by the Federal Scholarship Board to address the scholars’ financial challenges.
