The Federal Government has dismissed reports that Nigerian scholarship students in Morocco were abandoned. The government described the claims as misleading and intended to misinform the public.
Earlier, activist Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing Nigerian students in Morocco claiming they had not received financial support for years. The students alleged that the government failed to assist them despite them being scholarship beneficiaries.
Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, said on Wednesday that the reports were “false, unfounded, and deliberately crafted to misinform the public.”
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Education Minister Maruf Alausa confirmed that no student on a valid federal scholarship has been abandoned. He added that all students enrolled under the Bilateral Education Scholarship Programme before 2024 received payments up to that year.
Alausa explained that temporary delays in payments are due to fiscal constraints. The Ministry of Education is working with the Ministry of Finance to resolve these delays.
The government also dismissed claims that new bilateral scholarships were awarded in 2025. According to Alausa, documents suggesting otherwise are fake and unauthenticated.
The government discontinued funding new bilateral scholarships abroad after a policy review. Nigeria now has sufficient capacity in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to deliver these programmes locally.
Only scholarships fully funded by foreign governments are now supported.
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FG remains committed to students already enrolled abroad. Those wishing to return to Nigeria can do so and will be reintegrated into suitable institutions. The government will cover their travel costs.
Alausa said the scholarship reforms aim to promote transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources. He stressed that the government will not tolerate misinformation or attempts to discredit policies designed to strengthen Nigeria’s educational system.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
