KEY POINTS

• The Federal Government cancels the BEA program, redirecting funds to local scholarships.

• Minister Alausa criticized the scheme’s inefficiency and unnecessary spending on courses available locally.

• Current BEA beneficiaries will complete their programs, but no new admissions will be accepted after 2025.

The Federal Government announced the cancellation of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA), calling the scheme a waste of resources. The decision followed complaints from previous beneficiaries who accused the government of neglecting them.

The BEA enabled Nigerian students to study in countries like China, Russia, Algeria, and others through strong diplomatic ties.

Minister critiques scholarship program and redirects funds

According to Punch, Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa expressed displeasure over the “blackmailing” behaviour of some scholars on social media. He noted that the funds previously allocated to the BEA program will now support domestic scholarships to benefit more Nigerian students.

In 2024, Alausa refused to approve N650 million for 60 students going to Morocco, saying it was unfair.

Evaluation leads to cancellation of BEA and shift to local programs

Alausa revealed that some students in the BEA program studied courses available at Nigerian universities, making the program unjustifiable.

In 2025, the government planned to spend N9 billion on just 1,200 students, which Alausa criticised as excessive.

The funds for the BEA program will now be used for local scholarships to support a larger number of students.