The Federal Government has commenced the release of 50% of outstanding 2025 Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship arrears owed to Nigerian students studying abroad.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and shared via its official X account on Wednesday.
According to the Ministry, the disbursement represents a partial settlement of backlog allowances accumulated under the BEA scholarship programme due to earlier funding delays.
It explained that the released funds were processed through the Central Bank of Nigeria and transferred to Nigerian embassies and missions abroad for onward payment to beneficiaries.
The Ministry added that embassy accounts in various countries have already been credited, with missions directed to begin immediate disbursement to affected students.
“The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of approved outstanding 2025 allowances to beneficiaries of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme studying in partner countries abroad,” the statement read in part.
It further noted that the Honourable Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, confirmed that the released funds cover 50% of the approved outstanding obligations for 2025, while efforts are ongoing to settle the remaining balance.
The Ministry urged BEA scholars to monitor their bank accounts for credit alerts as payments begin across different countries.
In March 2025, the Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS) raised concerns over delayed stipends and reduced allowance payments, stating that many students were facing financial hardship abroad.
Earlier reports also highlighted exchange rate-related shortfalls that affected payments for previous academic periods, leaving several beneficiaries with funding gaps.
The government had previously announced reforms to the BEA programme, citing high costs and a shift in focus toward strengthening domestic scholarship schemes.
Despite discussions around discontinuation, the 2026 budget still includes allocations for both new and existing BEA scholars, covering tuition, allowances, and verification exercises across multiple partner countries.
The policy remains a subject of public debate as Nigeria continues to balance foreign scholarship commitments with domestic education priorities.
