By FUNMILAYO ADEYEMI

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has announced the discontinuation of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship programme.

Alausa made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by newly elected officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

He described the BEA programme as an inefficient use of public resources, noting that many of the courses pursued abroad under the scheme were readily available in Nigerian universities.

?I was asked to approve N650 million for 60 students going to Morocco under the BEA programme when I assumed office in 2024.

?I refused. It?s not fair to the majority of Nigerian students,? Alausa said.

The minister expressed dissatisfaction with the behaviour of some beneficiaries, who he claimed had resorted to ?blackmail? on social media over delayed allowances.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several BEA scholars had previously accused the Federal Government of abandoning them and failing to pay their entitlements.

However, the government recently clarified that all supplementary allowances had been paid up to December 2024.

Established through diplomatic partnerships, the BEA programme enabled Nigerian students to study in countries such as China, Russia, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco, Egypt, and Serbia.

Alausa said the government would now redirect BEA funds toward domestic scholarship schemes to benefit a larger number of students.

?I reviewed the courses, some students were sent to Algeria, a French-speaking country, to study English, Psychology, and Sociology, programmes we offer better here in Nigeria,? he said.

He criticised the lack of academic oversight, revealing that scholars received free annual travel without proper performance monitoring.

?In 2025 alone, the government planned to spend N9 billion on just 1,200 students.

?That?s unjust when millions of students in Nigeria receive no support. Every single course these students are studying abroad is available in Nigerian universities,? he said.

Alausa stressed that while current beneficiaries would be allowed to complete their programmes, the BEA scheme would not continue beyond 2025.

?We are cancelling the BEA. It is not the best use of public funds. The money will now be used to fund local scholarships and support more Nigerian students,? he said.

Earlier, the newly elected NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, commended the minister for reforms and progress achieved since assuming office. (NAN)

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