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Nigeria has decided to end a long-running scholarship programme that funds university education for students studying abroad, citing budget constraints and improvements in domestic tertiary education. The decision comes during a deepening economic crisis triggered by sweeping reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu.
Education Minister Morufu Olatunji Alausa announced the move in a statement, explaining that the courses Nigerian students travel overseas to study under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scheme are now available—and often of higher quality—within the country’s universities and polytechnics. He said the government would now redirect funds towards strengthening institutions at home.
Students currently benefiting from the BEA scholarships will continue to receive financial support until they complete their studies, Alausa assured.
The decision is part of a broader economic overhaul initiated after Tinubu took office in May 2023. His administration ended fuel subsidies and allowed the naira currency to float more freely—measures that have led to soaring inflation and public hardship, but are defended by officials as necessary to fix Nigeria’s fragile economy.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has endorsed the reforms but recently warned that the economic benefits have not yet trickled down to ordinary Nigerians. The organisation highlighted that poverty and food insecurity remain widespread despite the government’s efforts.
