Nigerians studying overseas under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to expedite the disbursement of their stipends.
The coalition, representing Nigerian scholars in countries like Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, and Hungary, called on Tinubu to assist them as students face severe hardships abroad.
Ayuba Anas Yushau, spokesperson for the Coalition of all the Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Student Association, stated in a Wednesday, March 6 statement:
“For the past six to eight months, scholars enrolled in various institutions abroad have endured financial strain due to the delay in receiving their stipends.
“In addition, from the last payments we received (March-August), there was a shortfall of practically two and a half months’ payment. Moreover, some students in China have not received any stipends since they arrived in April and May 2023.
“In some cases, there has been a shortfall of nearly two and a half months’ worth of payments, and this has had serious consequences for our well-being.”
He noted that in countries like Morocco, where there are no school-provided hostels, students must secure and pay for their own accommodations. Yushau highlighted that the critical stipends intended for basic living expenses have been withheld, leaving students without means to afford housing, utilities, or food.
Yushau further explained that in Russia, the increased cost of living coupled with stipend delays is causing hardship.
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