The Federal Government has said that supplementary allowances due to Nigerian students studying abroad under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme have been paid up to December 2024.
A statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Boriowo Folasade, said the Ministry acknowledged that the recent exchange rate fluctuations had led to shortfalls in fund disbursement.
She said the Minister of Education has formally requested additional funding to cover the differentials and ensure the full remittance of entitlements to all affected students.
According to her, provisions for the scholarship programme have now been captured under the Ministry’s Capital Budget and in line with the extension of the 2024 Capital Budget, disbursement of funds is expected once implementation begins.
The Ministry assured all stakeholders of its unwavering commitment to support Nigerian scholars abroad and was working diligently to meet all obligations under the BEA in a timely and effective manner.
She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students studying abroad under the BEA Scholarship Programme.
“The Ministry is pleased to report that all supplementary allowances due to Nigerian scholars have been paid up to December 2024. This reflects the Honourable Minister of Education’s sustained efforts to prioritise the needs of Nigerian students abroad.
“However, the Ministry acknowledges that recent exchange rate fluctuations led to shortfalls in fund disbursement. To address this, the Honourable Minister has formally requested additional funding to cover the differentials and ensure the full remittance of entitlements to all affected students.
“Looking ahead, provisions for the scholarship programme have been captured under the Federal Ministry of Education’s Capital Budget. In line with the extension of the 2024 Capital Budget, disbursement of funds under the 2025 Capital Budget is expected to commence in earnest once implementation begins.
“The Ministry assures all stakeholders of its unwavering commitment to supporting Nigerian scholars abroad and is working diligently to meet all obligations under the BEA in a timely and effective manner.
“We sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding of all students and their families and reaffirm our dedication to the continued success of the Bilateral Education Agreement Programme,” she added.
The BEA Programme, a product of the diplomatic relations and mutual cooperation, enables Nigerian students to pursue academic studies in partner countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia.
Through the agreements, host countries provide beneficiaries with free tuition, accommodation, and monthly stipends, while the Federal Government of Nigeria complements the support with take-off grants, monthly supplementation throughout the study period and return passage upon successful completion of their studies.
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