The Federal Government has dismissed claims that Nigerian scholarship students in Morocco have been abandoned, describing the reports as misleading and deliberately intended to misinform the public.

Earlier reports suggested that Nigerian students studying in Morocco under the Federal Government scholarship scheme were facing hardships, including homelessness and lack of medical support, prompting widespread concern on social media.

A video shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, speaking with several Nigerian students in Morocco who alleged they had not received financial support for years despite being scholarship recipients.

In response, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, said in a statement on Wednesday that narratives circulating in some quarters were “false, unfounded, and deliberately crafted to misinform the public.”

According to the statement, Minister of Education Maruf Alausa said, “No Nigerian student on a valid Federal Government scholarship has been abandoned.” He explained that all beneficiaries enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship Programme prior to 2024 had received payments up to the 2024 budget year, in line with government obligations.

Any delays in outstanding payments, the minister added, are due to fiscal challenges and are being addressed through ongoing engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.

Alausa also dismissed claims that new bilateral scholarship awards were granted in 2025. He explained that documents suggesting otherwise are “fake, unauthenticated, and constitute a calculated attempt to mislead the public and discredit government policy.”

The statement further clarified that the decision to discontinue government-funded bilateral scholarships abroad followed a policy review, which found that Nigeria now has “sufficient capacity within its universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to deliver the affected programmes locally.”

As a result, only scholarships fully funded by foreign governments are now being supported, “with all financial obligations borne entirely by the host countries.”

Despite the policy shift, the Federal Government said it remains committed to students already enrolled under previous arrangements and “will continue to support them until the completion of their programmes.”

Students who choose to discontinue their studies abroad may formally write to the Director, Department of Scholarship Awards, and will be reintegrated into appropriate tertiary institutions in Nigeria, with the government covering their return travel costs.

Alausa emphasized that the current administration is determined to reform the scholarship system, noting that previous practices placed unnecessary strain on public finances. “Past practices that sponsored overseas training for courses already well established in Nigeria placed avoidable financial burdens on the nation,” he said.

The ministry concluded that the reforms are aimed at “promoting transparency, accountability, and the prudent management of public resources,” while reaffirming the government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students and rejecting “misinformation, blackmail, or any attempt to undermine policies designed to strengthen national capacity and safeguard the integrity of the education sector.”

_______________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola _______________________________________________________________________

[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials

“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.

Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation

______________________________________________________________________ “Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers: A Comprehensive Guide”, authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626