A growing storm of anger, fear, and desperation is sweeping across Moroccan cities where Nigerian students under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship scheme say they have been left stranded for over 15 months without receiving their monthly stipends.
The students — many of whom rely solely on the scholarship for accommodation, food, medical care, and transport — are now facing eviction, hunger, health complications, and severe emotional distress. Their outcry has intensified national debate over Nigeria’s handling of its foreign scholarship programmes and the government’s controversial decision to discontinue the BEA scheme.
A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds in Slow Motion
For the stranded scholars, the last year has been a nightmare.
Reports from Morocco indicate that several students have been kicked out of their apartments due to accumulated rent arrears. Others are said to be surviving on borrowed food, rationing meals to the bare minimum, or depending on friends for shelter. Some students claim they have fallen ill but cannot afford basic medical treatment.
A few described the experience as “living like refugees in a foreign country,” despite being officially sponsored by their own government.
One student described having to walk long distances daily because he could no longer afford transportation. Another recounted the humiliation of begging for food in a country where he came to study under a prestigious government scholarship.
Students Condemn Government Verification Exercise
Amid their hardship, many BEA scholars have expressed shock and anger over a planned verification exercise by Nigerian officials in Rabat.
The students argue that it is insensitive for government representatives to travel for verification when the core issue — unpaid stipends — remains unresolved. They describe the exercise as “disrespectful,” “misplaced,” and “a deliberate attempt to downplay the severity of their suffering.”
Several students questioned the rationality of asking them to travel to Rabat for physical verification when most cannot afford transportation within their own cities, let alone intercity travel.
This tension has led to organised demonstrations in parts of Morocco, with placards demanding immediate payment of arrears and restoration of their full stipend.
A Devastating Stipend Cut Deepens the Pain
Beyond the prolonged non-payment, scholars are also grappling with a drastic cut in their monthly allowance.
Before the crisis, BEA students reportedly received $500 per month. However, without proper consultation, the stipend was slashed by more than half, dropping to approximately $220 — a figure the students say cannot sustain anyone living in an increasingly expensive foreign economy.
Basic living costs in Morocco have risen sharply in recent years, and many students argue that even the original stipend struggled to keep up. With the new reduced rate — coupled with a 15-month freeze — survival has become nearly impossible.
Government’s Policy Shift: The End of BEA Scholarships
In the midst of the chaos, the Nigerian government announced the suspension — and eventual discontinuation — of the BEA programme.
According to officials, the scheme had become too expensive, and most of the courses offered to beneficiaries abroad are now available in Nigerian universities. Authorities claim that redirecting resources to local institutions would yield greater long-term value.
However, the decision has not been well received by current scholars, who argue that the cancellation of the programme should not affect their welfare or the terms under which they traveled abroad.
The abrupt policy shift, combined with prolonged funding delays, has contributed to what many observers call one of Nigeria’s most mishandled scholarship crises in recent memory.
Students Accuse Government of Abandonment
The scholars insist that they are being treated unfairly and that their rights under the scholarship agreement are being violated.
Their demands are straightforward:
- Immediate payment of all outstanding stipends.
- Restoration of the original monthly stipend amount.
- Direct engagement from top officials rather than bureaucratic back-and-forth.
- Support for visa and passport renewal, which some students cannot afford due to the non-payment.
- A clear policy roadmap explaining how the government intends to handle the welfare of existing scholars after cancelling the BEA scheme.
Students say that without urgent intervention, more of them may end up homeless, hungry, or forced to drop out entirely — despite being sent abroad to represent Nigeria academically.
Diplomatic & Reputational Risks for Nigeria
Experts warn that the crisis could have diplomatic consequences.
The BEA scholarship is not solely a Nigerian programme; it is a bilateral agreement involving multiple partner nations. Failure to meet obligations could damage Nigeria’s credibility in future educational or diplomatic engagements.
Parents and guardians back home have expressed deep frustration, noting that their children earned the scholarship through merit and should not be punished for administrative failures.
There are also concerns that the negative experience may discourage future applicants and erode trust in government-funded international programmes.
The Bigger Question: What Went Wrong?
Several issues appear to be intertwined:
- Budgetary constraints linked to economic instability.
- Foreign exchange fluctuations, which allegedly caused shortfalls in payments.
- Poor communication between the Ministry of Education, scholarship boards, and the scholars.
- A policy overhaul that did not prioritise the welfare of existing beneficiaries.
- Administrative bottlenecks that delayed disbursements beyond reasonable limits.
Critics say the government failed to anticipate the consequences of its policy changes or plan an orderly transition for current scholars.
A Plea for Urgent Action
As their hardship intensifies, stranded BEA scholars in Morocco continue to call on the presidency, National Assembly, Ministry of Education, and other relevant authorities to intervene.
They insist that this is not a political issue — it is a matter of survival.
Many believe the situation is still recoverable, but only if the government responds swiftly, transparently, and compassionately.
Conclusion: A Crisis That Tests National Commitment to Education
The ongoing ordeal facing Nigerian scholars in Morocco raises sobering questions:
- How does a country allow its brightest young talents to starve in foreign lands?
- Why were students not protected during the transition of a major government policy?
- Can Nigeria repair the damage — both humanitarian and reputational — caused by this prolonged neglect?
For now, hundreds of affected scholars continue to wait — hungry, hopeful, and uncertain — for relief that should have come more than a year ago.
