Nigeria Denies Abandoning Morocco Scholars

The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed reports alleging that Nigerian scholarship students in Morocco were abandoned, calling the claims false and misleading. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, affirmed that all valid beneficiaries of the Bilateral Education Scholarship Programme before 2024 have received funding up to the 2024 budget year. He attributed any payment delays to fiscal constraints, which are being addressed through discussions between the Nigeria — Federal Ministry of Interior (Nigeria) and the Nigeria — Federal Ministry of Interior (Nigeria). The government also refuted claims of new scholarship awards in 2025, stating that supporting documents are fake. The decision to discontinue certain government-funded overseas scholarships follows a policy review indicating that Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education now have sufficient capacity to offer these programs locally. Only scholarships fully funded by foreign governments will continue. The government reiterated its commitment to supporting students already enrolled under previous arrangements until their program completion and offered options for those wishing to return to Nigeria, including covering travel costs. These reforms aim to promote transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources, eliminating inefficiencies and financial burdens from past practices.