CurrentReport Blog Nigerian students studying abroad under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship program are facing mounting financial difficulties due to prolonged delays in receiving their stipends. Represented by the Coalition of all the Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Student Association, scholars in countries such as Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, and Hungary are appealing to President Bola Tinubu for urgent intervention.
According to Ayuba Anas Yushau, the spokesperson for the coalition, students have endured six to eight months of financial strain as a result of the delay in stipend disbursement. Furthermore, there have been significant shortfalls in payments, with some students in China not receiving any stipends since April and May 2023.
The withheld stipends, intended for basic living expenses, have left students struggling to afford housing, utilities, and food. In Russia, where the cost of living is rising, the combination of increased expenses and stipend delays is pushing Nigerian scholars to their limits.
The coalition emphasizes President Tinubu’s role as a father figure and visionary leader in education, urging him to intervene in this pressing matter. They believe that prompt disbursement of stipends will not only alleviate their current hardships but also enable them to focus wholeheartedly on their studies.
