Students from Nigeria currently studying in various countries such as Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and others under the Federal Government’s scholarship program are facing a severe financial crisis. These students, beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship, have not received their stipends for the past eight months.
The Bilateral Educational Agreement Scholarship aims to promote educational exchange between Nigeria and partner countries. However, the delay in stipend payment has caused significant financial strain on the students, affecting their ability to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, transportation, and academic materials.
President of the Union of Nigerian Students under the scholarship program, Ayuba Anas, highlighted the challenges faced by the students, including evictions and health issues due to lack of funds. He emphasized the need for immediate intervention by the Federal Government to alleviate their suffering and allow them to focus on their studies.
Despite the students’ awareness of Nigeria’s economic challenges, they are unable to seek employment to support themselves due to the terms of the scholarship program. They have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and ensure the prompt disbursement of their stipends.
Unfortunately, there has been no response from the Federal Ministry of Education regarding the students’ plight. The students remain hopeful that President Tinubu will address their concerns and enable them to pursue their academic goals without financial burden.
