Nigerian Students in Morocco Cry Out Over Unpaid Stipends and Worsening Hardship

Nigerian students currently studying in Morocco under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship have raised an urgent alarm over severe financial neglect, citing years of unpaid stipends that have left many facing hunger and homelessness.

The crisis gained national attention in mid-January 2026 following reports and viral social media footage detailing the deteriorating living conditions of the scholars.

Students on the ground report that the lack of financial support has forced them into desperate measures. Many students have reportedly been evicted from their apartments due to several months of unpaid rent. To avoid starvation, some scholars have resorted to secret, low-paying manual jobs. These activities, while necessary for survival, technically violate the terms of their international student visas and scholarship agreements. Without funds, students are unable to access medical care, a situation described as critical by final-year medical students within the cohort.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has maintained that payments for scholarship beneficiaries have been processed through 2024. However, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the affected scholars dispute this claim, asserting that the "reality on the ground" contradicts official statements. NANS has formally characterized the situation as a "blatant betrayal of trust" by the Ministry of Education.

The students and various advocacy groups are now calling on President Bola Tinubu to launch an immediate investigation into the disbursement of scholarship funds.

"They sent us abroad to become professionals and return to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare and infrastructure, but they have abandoned us in a foreign land," one student leader stated.

As of January 2026, Nigerians and civil society organizations are demanding immediate transparency and the urgent release of all outstanding stipends to prevent the complete collapse of the scholars' academic futures and well-being.