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For many Nigerian students studying abroad under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship, the promise of quality education has turned into a harsh struggle for survival. The Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS) has raised serious concerns about the persistent delays in stipend payments and a drastic 56 percent reduction in financial support, which have left scholars stranded in foreign countries without essential resources.
These students, who left Nigeria with high hopes of academic excellence and a better future, are now facing extreme financial hardship. Many come from struggling families that had counted on the government to fulfill its commitment to their education. Some scholars are orphans, while others have parents who are civil servants, traders, or teachers who can barely make ends meet. The stipend, which was meant to sustain them, has either been delayed or significantly reduced, making daily survival a challenge.
A Year of Broken Promises and Financial Hardship
According to a statement issued by UNBEAS, the crisis began with inconsistent and delayed payments. The last stipend disbursement students received covered January to August 2023. However, even that payment was incomplete due to exchange rate fluctuations, leaving scholars shortchanged by more than two months’ worth of stipends. Since then, no payment has been made for the remaining months of 2023, leaving students stranded for over a year without financial support.
The situation worsened in September 2024 when students finally received another stipend payment. Instead of clearing the outstanding arrears, the government shocked scholars by reducing their monthly stipends from five hundred dollars to two hundred and twenty dollars, a staggering 56 percent cut. The justification for this reduction was linked to foreign exchange rate differentials, but students argue that this decision has only deepened their financial struggles.
Scholars Face Hunger, Evictions, and Health Crises
For scholars studying in countries where government-provided accommodation is unavailable, such as Morocco, the stipend is their only means of survival. With the drastic reduction in payments and prolonged delays, many have been evicted from their apartments due to unpaid rent. Some have gone days without food, while others have fallen seriously ill due to malnutrition but cannot afford medical care.
The crisis is not limited to students in Morocco. Reports indicate similar suffering among scholars in Russia, Algeria, China, Venezuela, and Hungary. Students in these countries are barely surviving, with many relying on charity from friends and well-wishers. What was once a prestigious scholarship program has become a source of hardship and anxiety for those depending on it for survival.
Nigerian Government’s Silence and Scholars’ Desperate Appeal
The federal government has cited the foreign exchange crisis as a reason for the stipend cut. However, students argue that the 2025 budget does not adequately address their concerns. Instead of restoring the full stipend, budgetary allocations suggest the possibility of further reductions, raising fears that students may receive even less than the current two hundred and twenty dollars.
In response to the worsening situation, UNBEAS is appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly, and all relevant government agencies to take immediate action. The scholars have outlined key demands, which include the payment of all outstanding stipends from September to December 2023, as well as the full shortfall from March to August 2023. They are also calling for the restoration of the five hundred dollars stipend, arguing that two hundred and twenty dollars is inadequate for basic living expenses in most host countries.
“We Are Not Asking for Luxury, We Are Pleading for Survival”
The scholars have made it clear that they are not asking for luxury or special treatment. They are only asking the government to fulfill its obligations before lives are lost to hunger, sickness, and despair. Many students feel abandoned by the very system that once promised them a brighter future. The scholarship program, which was meant to be a tool for empowerment, has now become a nightmare for those who rely on it for survival.
The worsening financial conditions of these scholars demand urgent intervention. UNBEAS is urging the media, civil society organizations, and concerned Nigerians to amplify their appeal. The lives of hundreds of Nigerian students studying abroad are at risk, and without immediate government action, many will continue to suffer in silence.
Federal Government’s Silence and Scholars’ Desperate Plea for Action
The federal government has yet to provide a clear roadmap on how it plans to resolve the ongoing stipend crisis. Although officials have cited Nigeria’s economic difficulties and foreign exchange fluctuations as the reason for the stipend cuts, UNBEAS insists that this explanation is not acceptable. The union has also expressed concerns that the recently approved 2025 budget makes inadequate allocations for BEA scholars, raising fears that stipends may be reduced even further in the coming year.
In response, UNBEAS has made an urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly, and all relevant government agencies to act immediately. The scholars are demanding the following:
- Payment of all outstanding stipends for September to December 2023, along with the full shortfall from March to August 2023.
- Immediate payment of the full 56 percent shortfall throughout the year 2024.
- Timely disbursement of stipends for 2025 to prevent further hardship.
- Restoration of the original five hundred dollars stipend, as the current two hundred and twenty dollars is grossly insufficient for basic living expenses.
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