In a significant policy shift tied to ongoing economic reforms, the Nigerian government has announced the discontinuation of its Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship program, which previously funded students to study abroad. Education Minister Morufu Olatunji Alausa revealed that the decision is aimed at redirecting public funds towards strengthening domestic institutions of higher learning.
“Every course Nigerians travel abroad to study through the BEA is now available and often of higher quality within our own universities and polytechnics,” Alausa stated. He emphasized that it is no longer justifiable to spend public resources on overseas education when credible local alternatives exist.
According to the minister, the funds previously allocated to the BEA program will now be invested in enhancing the quality and capacity of Nigerian universities and polytechnics. Students currently benefiting from the scholarship will, however, continue to receive funding until they complete their studies.
This move comes as Nigeria grapples with an economic crisis triggered by sweeping reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu, who took office in May 2023. His administration eliminated fuel subsidies and loosened currency controls, leading to surging inflation. Though these reforms have been praised by international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), they have also sparked widespread hardship, with many Nigerians facing increased poverty and food insecurity.
The IMF recently reiterated its support for Tinubu’s economic measures but acknowledged that the benefits of these reforms have yet to be felt by the majority of the population.
