The Federal Government of Nigeria has ended its Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme, which funded Nigerians to study abroad.
Education Minister Maruf Olatunji Alausa made the announcement Wednesday in Abuja, citing a policy shift to strengthen local tertiary institutions.
“Every course Nigerians travel abroad to study through the BEA is now available and often of higher quality within our own universities and polytechnics,” he said.
“It is no longer justifiable to fund overseas studies with public resources when local alternatives exist.”
He noted the high cost of sponsoring students abroad is better invested locally.
Current BEA beneficiaries will remain supported. Alausa said the government still welcomes fully funded foreign scholarships with no cost to Nigeria.
Other domestic schemes and the interest-free Student Loan Programme will continue.
“This is not an end, but a new beginning,” he added.