Nigerian Government Shuts Down BEA Scholarship Scheme, Pledges Reinvestment in Local Education

 

The long-standing Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship scheme, once a prestigious route for Nigerian students to study abroad, is set to be permanently discontinued by the federal government. The move was announced on Tuesday in Abuja by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a courtesy visit by officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

For decades, the BEA programme facilitated educational exchange between Nigeria and a range of partner countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas—including Russia, China, Hungary, Algeria, Venezuela, and Morocco. Under the agreement, these countries allocated annual scholarship slots to Nigeria, with the Federal Scholarship Board responsible for selecting successful candidates through a merit-based nomination process.

The host countries typically covered tuition and accommodation, while the Nigerian government provided supplementary support for its scholars. This included a $500 monthly stipend for living costs such as books, transportation, and meals, along with an additional $200 annually for health insurance and $500 for medical expenses.

However, the programme has not been without its controversies. Scholars have frequently accused the government of defaulting on payment of allowances, leading to hardship abroad and, in some cases, public outcry. In one high-profile instance, students were reportedly left stranded when their stipends were unpaid for an entire year. The resulting backlash reached the national assembly, with lawmakers summoning the then education minister to account for the neglect.

Dr. Alausa criticised the BEA scheme as an unsustainable and unjust allocation of public resources. He revealed that, shortly after assuming office in 2024, he declined a proposal seeking N650 million in funding for 60 students selected to study in Morocco under the agreement.

"I couldn’t justify that kind of expenditure when millions of students in Nigeria are struggling with little to no support," Alausa said. "It’s simply not equitable. We're spending billions on a few while neglecting the many."

The minister highlighted glaring mismatches in the programme’s design, citing cases where students were sent to non-English-speaking countries such as Algeria to pursue degrees in subjects like English, Sociology, and Psychology—all of which are widely available in Nigerian universities with stronger academic reputations in those disciplines.

Alaus also flagged a lack of proper academic oversight within the scheme. According to him, scholars were routinely granted annual travel without adequate monitoring of their academic performance. “There was no accountability,” he said, expressing concern about the weak structure surrounding the students’ progress abroad.

He took particular issue with what he termed the “social media blackmail” tactics used by some BEA beneficiaries to protest delayed stipends. While admitting to previous lapses in payment, the minister affirmed that all outstanding allowances had been cleared up to December 2024.

"Every obligation due to current scholars has been met," he stated. "But going forward, this scheme will not continue. It no longer aligns with the priorities of this administration."

Under the proposed policy shift, funds earmarked for the BEA will now be redirected toward bolstering domestic scholarship programmes. The government plans to use the resources to reach a significantly larger number of students studying within the country.

According to Alausa, the federal budget had previously allocated N9 billion to support just 1,200 BEA students for the year 2025 alone. “That’s an enormous cost for such a small number,” he said. “And every single course these students are studying abroad is offered in Nigeria, often with more cultural and linguistic relevance.”

By reallocating BEA resources to local scholarship schemes, the Ministry of Education hopes to provide broader, more impactful support to Nigerian students, particularly those attending public tertiary institutions. Officials believe this pivot will not only democratize access to educational support but also strengthen domestic institutions and academic programmes.

The decision to sunset the BEA scheme marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s education policy. While past administrations upheld international scholarship programmes as a means of global exposure and academic enrichment, the current government appears more focused on internal capacity-building and equitable resource distribution.

Dr. Alausa reassured that existing BEA scholars will be permitted to complete their studies without disruption. However, the scheme itself will be formally phased out by the end of 2025.

“This is about fairness and effectiveness,” he concluded. “We are not saying education abroad is wrong. But public funds must serve the greatest good for the greatest number. The BEA no longer fits that principle.”

With this policy shift, the government sets a new tone in its approach to international education partnerships, pivoting away from elite-focused sponsorships and toward broader-based educational support at home.