Nigeria scraps scholarships for students abroad

ABUJA: Nigeria is ending a major scholarship programme for university students abroad, citing the improvement of higher education at home as well as the country´s “limited public funds”.

The move comes as Nigeria faces an economic crisis following reforms by President Bola Tinubu. “Every course Nigerians travel abroad to study through the BEA is now available and often of higher quality within our own universities and polytechnics,” said Education Minister Morufu Olatunji Alausa in a statement, announcing the end of the programme.

Alausa said the money would be better spent on strengthening Nigeria´s own universities. Students currently enrolled will continue to receive funding through the end of their studies, he said.