FG Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Lament Unpaid Eight-Month Stipends
The students, studying in countries including Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and others, emphasized the necessity of stipends for covering basic expenses such as housing, utilities, transportation, and food.
AKACHI NOEL 
Nigerian students studying in various countries under the Federal Government's Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship program have voiced their grievances over unpaid stipends for the past eight months.
The BEA scholarship program facilitates education exchange between Nigeria and partnering countries, overseen by the Federal Scholarship Board under the Federal Ministry of Education.
READ ALSO:Lagos State University Admits 12,873 Students from Over 50,000 Applicants
President of the Union of Nigerian Students under the BEA Scholarship, Ayuba Anas, highlighted the financial strain endured by scholars due to the delayed stipend disbursement. Anas noted that some students had not received any stipends since April and May 2023, with others facing eviction and health challenges amidst financial hardships.
The students, studying in countries including Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and others, emphasized the necessity of stipends for covering basic expenses such as housing, utilities, transportation, and food.
While acknowledging the economic challenges in Nigeria, the students stressed their inability to seek employment due to the terms of the scholarship program.
They appealed to the Federal Government, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene and ensure prompt stipend disbursement, enabling them to focus on their studies without financial burdens.No response was received from the Federal Ministry of Education regarding inquiries on the matter.
