By Tony Obiechina Abuja
The Federal government has restated its commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students studying abroad under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme.
This was contained in a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Folashade Boriowo on Friday.
The BEA Programme, a product of strong diplomatic relations and mutual cooperation, enables Nigerian students to pursue academic studies in countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia.
Through these agreements, host countries provide beneficiaries with free tuition, accommodation, and monthly stipends, while the Federal Government of Nigeria complements this support with take-off grants, monthly supplementation throughout the study period and return passage upon successful completion of their programmes.
The statement reads: “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”.
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