Nigerian Students Abroad Receive Part Payment Of 2025 BEA Scholarship Stipends, Demand Outstanding Arrears | Sahara Reporters

The statement was signed by the Public Relations Officer of UNBEAS, Dr. Umar Gambo Adamu, on behalf of all BEA chapter presidents.

The Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS) has acknowledged receiving a part payment of the 2025 stipends owed to Nigerian students studying abroad under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship programme.

However, the affected students explained that the Federal Government still owes scholars substantial outstanding payments dating back to 2023.

In a statement issued on August 12, 2026, made available to SaharaReporters on Friday, the union thanked the Federal Government and key officials involved in facilitating the latest payment while expressing concern over what it described as persistent underfunding of the scholarship scheme.

The statement was signed by the Public Relations Officer of UNBEAS, Dr. Umar Gambo Adamu, on behalf of all BEA chapter presidents.

“The Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS) wishes to appreciate the Federal Government, the Honourable Ministers of Education and Finance, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), the Union of Parents of BEA Scholars, and everyone involved in the process of the recently released 2025 stipends,” the statement said.

According to the scholars, although the payment has provided temporary relief, it represents only a fraction of what is owed.

“Though much still needs to be done, this payment has brought some relief to the scholars,” the statement said.

The union disclosed that the amount appropriated for the 2025 scholarship stipends was already insufficient before the latest disbursement.

The statement added, “While the amount budgeted for the year 2025 was only 46% of the total amount required for the year, only half of that amount was paid, despite repeated assurances from the Honourable Minister that the remaining amount would be paid within the next two weeks.”

UNBEAS warned that the outstanding obligations could become even more difficult to settle if they are not cleared before the current budget cycle closes.

“Our concern remains that after September 30, 2026, the budget cycles for both 2024 and 2025 may be closed,” it said.

The union appealed to the Federal Government to immediately release the outstanding balance for 2025 and clear all accumulated arrears owed to Nigerian scholars studying overseas.

“In the same vein, we wish to appeal to the government, through the Honourable Minister of Education, to ensure the immediate release of the remaining 2025 payment, as well as all other outstanding backlogs,” the statement partly read.

According to the union, Nigerian students under the BEA programme remain owed several categories of unpaid stipends stretching back over multiple years.

“As it stands, scholars are still owed payment for four months in 2023, in addition to a separate shortfall of over $1,000,” the scholars said.

The union further stated that only about 46 percent of the total stipend due for 2024 was eventually paid.

It added that the latest payment means scholars have received only about 23 percent of their total entitlement for 2025.

“Scholars also note with dismay that, as of the time of compiling this press release, no payment has been received for the year 2026,” the statement said.

UNBEAS appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu and other government officials to intervene urgently.

“We therefore appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), and every other stakeholder involved in this matter to look into this situation and fast-track the payment of all outstanding stipends and backlogs,” the statement said.

The Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship programme is a long-standing initiative through which the Federal Government sponsors Nigerian students to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies in partner countries under educational cooperation agreements.

Beneficiary countries have traditionally included China, Russia, Morocco, Algeria, Hungary, Serbia, Egypt and several others.

In recent years, BEA scholars have repeatedly protested prolonged delays in the payment of stipends, warning that many students have struggled to pay accommodation fees, purchase food, maintain valid residency documents and meet other basic living expenses while studying abroad.

SaharaReporters has previously reported on repeated appeals by BEA scholars and their parents to the Federal Government over unpaid allowances. Students have staged protests and written open letters to government officials, saying the delays exposed many of them to eviction, financial hardship and academic disruption.

The Federal Government has, on several occasions, acknowledged the payment delays and attributed them to budgetary constraints and administrative processes, while assuring affected students that outstanding entitlements would be settled.