Nigerian Students Abroad and Parents Plan Walkout Over Missing Scholarship Cash

Students from Nigeria learning overseas on a government deal, along with their families, will hold a rally on Monday outside the finance office in Abuja’s main area. They aim to press bosses to pay back owed monthly grants that have left many in tough spots.

The group behind the event, made up of those in the two-way learning pact, says the country owes them 11 months of support for this year, plus four months from late last year. Each person should get 500 dollars a month, but they only saw 220 dollars this year—a drop of more than half—with nothing since then.

The cash shortfall has hit hard, forcing some to skip meals, live rough, or take side jobs that break the rules. One student in Morocco lost his life to the strain, and others fear the same without quick help.

The deal, struck with nations like Hungary, Morocco, China, Russia, and Serbia, sends young people for higher studies. But in April this year, leaders ended it for fresh starters after 2025, calling it too costly and not worth the money. The education head, Dr Tunji Alausa, said he turned down 650 million naira for just 60 spots in Morocco, as it short-changes local learners.

He noted that nine billion naira could have backed 1,200 abroad, but millions at home get nothing. “It’s unfair and can’t last,” he added. Alausa pointed out that 85 per cent of past award winners never came back to aid the nation, and all their courses run in Nigerian schools anyway. The saved funds will now help more at home.

Bosses claim they cleared extra grants up to year’s end, but ask for more due to shifting money rates. The current group will finish their work, but the hold-up has sparked anger over broken promises.