Foreign Students Lament As FG Leaves Them Stranded

Nigerian students studying abroad on the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement, BEA, Scholarship are outraged after the FG announced a reduction in their allowance due to the country’s economic downturn.

The allowances of researchers currently stranded in Russia, Morocco, and Algeria, among others, have been reduced by 12.7%.

The government’s decision was outlined in a memo signed by Ndajiwo H.A., Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, on behalf of Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman.

The students are enrolled in the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship, which was intended to promote educational interaction between Nigeria and its partner countries.

The scholarship is overseen by the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), which reports to the Federal Ministry of Education.

The memo read: “I am directed to inform you that the prevailing situation concerning the domestic exchange rate in Nigeria makes it difficult for the Federal Scholarship Board to sustain the payment of Bilateral Agreement, BEA, scholars’ allowances as contained in the award letters issued at the point of departure to the host countries.

“After due consultations, the Federal Scholarship Board, FSB, has come up with adjustments in line with budgetary provisions in the payment of BEA scholar’s supplementation allowances for the 2024 academic year.”

According to the message, supplements allowances per month are reduced from $500 to $220, PG research allowance from $1,000 to $500, and passage/graduation allowance from $2,500 to $2,000.

However, the annual warm clothing allowance remained fixed at $250, as did the health insurance allowance at $200, the pilot allowance at $700, and the medical allowance of $500.

Reacting to the development yesterday, July 24, the scholars highlighted that the government had delayed to release their allowances for more than 13 months, forcing them to seek survival in foreign countries.

One of the affected scholars, Ronald Donald, said: “Firstly, students have stayed 13 months without stipends, just promises upon promises.

“Now, the only thing the FSB could come up with is to reduce the stipends. Let me give you an idea of how living in Russia and Morocco looks like;

“In Russia, a student needs a minimum of $300 to survive. The bus fares are expensive, and the hostel prices are up. Bread used to be sold for 70 rubbles is now 120 rubbles. In Morocco, the students don’t have hostels provided for them. As such, they rent apartments (at a starting price of $200 a month).”

Speaking about how some of the stranded scholars were surviving, Donald stated: “Normally, the embassy in Russia provides loans to students in need. They return the money when the FSB pays.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli