Nigerian Government Denies Claims of Abandoned Scholarship Students in Morocco

The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed widespread reports claiming that Nigerian scholarship students in Morocco have been abandoned, describing them as misleading and intentionally designed to misinform the public. The clarification comes after a viral video on X (formerly Twitter) showed activist Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, speaking with students alleging financial neglect. In response, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, emphasized that no Nigerian student on a valid federal scholarship has been abandoned, with ongoing payments and support maintained for all beneficiaries under prior agreements.

Overview

Nigeria’s Bilateral Education Scholarship Programme has historically enabled students to study abroad in countries like Morocco, France, and the United States. Launched to enhance skills in critical sectors, the scheme has provided full financial support, including tuition, accommodation, and stipends.

However, recent claims alleging that students have been left without financial support circulated widely on social media, causing concern among parents, stakeholders, and education advocates. The Federal Ministry of Education’s recent statement sought to clarify the facts and reaffirm government commitments, particularly under the reforms led by Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa.

The clarification also ties into a broader government review of scholarship policies. Authorities concluded that Nigeria now possesses sufficient domestic capacity in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to deliver programmes that previously required overseas training. Consequently, new fully-funded bilateral scholarships abroad have been discontinued, with ongoing support limited to students enrolled prior to 2024.

Key Facts and Confirmed Details

No student on a valid federal scholarship has been abandoned, according to the Ministry of Education.
Payments to students enrolled prior to 2024 were received up to the 2024 budget year.
Temporary delays in payment are due to fiscal constraints, currently addressed through coordination between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.
No new bilateral scholarships were awarded in October 2025 or thereafter. Documents claiming otherwise are unauthenticated and false.
Scholarships funded entirely by foreign governments are still supported; Nigeria no longer provides additional funding for such programmes.
Students wishing to return to Nigeria mid-programme will be reintegrated into local tertiary institutions, with the government covering return travel costs.

Reactions and Official Statements

Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, stated:

“No Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been abandoned. Past practices that sponsored overseas training for courses already well established in Nigeria placed avoidable financial burdens on the nation. Ongoing reforms are designed to promote transparency, accountability, and the prudent management of public resources.”

The Ministry’s Director of Press, Boriowo Folasade, further emphasized that reports circulated on social media were false, unfounded, and deliberately crafted to mislead the public, highlighting the Ministry’s commitment to students’ welfare and financial support.

Why This Story Matters

This story is critical for multiple stakeholders:

Students and Parents: Assurance that ongoing scholarship support remains active and reliable.
Policy Transparency: Reaffirms government commitment to reform and responsible management of public resources.
Education System Strengthening: Reflects Nigeria’s increasing capacity to provide high-quality domestic tertiary education.
Social Media Literacy: Highlights the risk of misinformation spreading rapidly, especially on X and other platforms.

Broader Implications and Global Perspective

The decision to phase out new bilateral scholarships highlights a global trend of countries investing in local educational infrastructure while maintaining selective international collaborations.
By redirecting resources to domestic institutions, Nigeria aims to strengthen local universities and colleges, enhancing self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on overseas training.
The move aligns with global education policies promoting cost-effective, high-quality domestic education while preserving international partnerships for specialized fields.

What Happens Next

The Ministry will continue supporting all pre-2024 scholarship students until completion of their programmes.
Students returning to Nigeria will be reintegrated into appropriate institutions seamlessly, with full coverage of travel costs.
Future scholarship schemes will focus on domestic institutions, ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainability of resources.
Monitoring mechanisms will be reinforced to prevent misinformation and maintain stakeholder confidence.

Why This Matters to Readers

For students: Confirms that financial support and welfare are intact.
For parents and guardians: Eliminates anxiety caused by viral misinformation.
For taxpayers: Demonstrates responsible allocation of government resources.
For global partners: Shows Nigeria’s commitment to strategic, sustainable scholarship management.

Educational Explainer: Understanding Bilateral Scholarships

A bilateral scholarship is a program jointly funded by two governments, allowing students to pursue studies abroad while ensuring financial responsibilities are shared. Nigeria’s reform limits new bilateral scholarships because domestic institutions now provide equivalent programs. Benefits of such reforms include:

Reduced fiscal strain on public funds
Enhanced domestic academic standards
Focused international partnerships for niche disciplines

While viral videos and social media narratives caused concern, official statements clarify that the policy is proactive rather than punitive, focusing on systemic reforms. Students already enrolled are protected, while new applicants are encouraged to pursue opportunities locally or under fully-funded foreign programmes.

FAQs

1. Are Nigerian scholarship students in Morocco abandoned?
No. The Federal Ministry of Education confirms all students enrolled prior to 2024 continue to receive support.

2. Why are some students experiencing delays in payments?
Delays are temporary and caused by fiscal constraints, being resolved by ongoing engagements between the Ministry of Education and Finance.

3. Are new bilateral scholarships being awarded?
No. New fully-funded bilateral scholarships abroad were discontinued in 2025 due to a policy review.

4. What options exist for students wishing to return to Nigeria?
Students may formally write to the Director, Department of Scholarship Awards, and the government will reintegrate them into domestic institutions and cover travel costs.

5. Will the government continue supporting students under the old system?
Yes. All students enrolled under previous arrangements will continue to receive full support until programme completion.

Summary

The Nigerian Federal Government has strongly refuted claims that scholarship students in Morocco are abandoned. Official statements confirm ongoing support for all pre-2024 scholarship recipients and clarify that new bilateral scholarships abroad have been discontinued due to domestic capacity expansion. The reforms aim to promote transparency, sustainability, and responsible management of resources while ensuring the welfare of Nigerian students remains a priority.

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