The latest review follows the Federal Government’s earlier decision to stop funding new scholarships under its government-sponsored Bilateral Education Agreement programme.
However, students who had already benefited from the previous arrangement were not affected by the decision. The government had stated that existing beneficiaries would continue receiving financial support until they complete their studies.
The policy also does not prevent foreign governments from independently awarding scholarships to Nigerian students. Countries interested in sponsoring Nigerian students may continue to do so, but such programmes would not necessarily require financial contributions from the Nigerian government.
Alausa said foreign governments could maintain their scholarship offers without expecting Nigeria to bear the cost.
He further explained that the circumstances that led to the establishment of many overseas scholarship arrangements had changed over time.
According to him, such programmes were initially created decades ago because Nigeria lacked sufficient capacity in certain areas of tertiary education.
However, the minister noted that the country has significantly expanded its educational capacity over the past two decades, with universities, polytechnics and colleges of education now offering a wider range of programmes.
The scholarship review is part of the Federal Ministry of Education’s wider efforts to reform the country’s education sector and strengthen domestic institutions in line with the education objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
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