FG Reacts to Claims Nigerian Scholarship College students Deserted in Morocco

The Federal Authorities has dismissed reviews suggesting that Nigerian scholarship college students in Morocco have been deserted, calling the narratives deceptive and intentionally meant to misinform the general public.

Earlier reviews claimed that college students learning in Morocco beneath the Federal Authorities scholarship scheme had been going through hardships, together with homelessness and lack of medical assist, sparking widespread concern on social media.

A video circulated on X (previously Twitter) confirmed activist Martins Otse (VeryDarkMan) talking with college students who alleged that they had not obtained {financial} assist for years regardless of being scholarship recipients.

In response, Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations on the Federal Ministry of Training, mentioned in a press release on Wednesday that the circulating claims had been “false, unfounded, and intentionally crafted to misinform the general public.”

In line with the assertion, Minister of Training Maruf Alausa affirmed, “No Nigerian pupil on a legitimate Federal Authorities scholarship has been deserted.”

He defined that each one beneficiaries enrolled beneath the Bilateral Training Scholarship Programme previous to 2024 had obtained funds as much as the 2024 finances 12 months, consistent with authorities obligations.

The ministry mentioned any delays in excellent funds had been as a result of fiscal challenges and are being addressed by way of ongoing engagements between the Federal Ministry of Training and the Ministry of Finance. Alausa additionally rejected claims that new bilateral scholarship awards had been granted in 2025.

“No new bilateral scholarship awards had been made in October 2025 or at any time thereafter,” the assertion mentioned, including that paperwork suggesting in any other case are “pretend, unauthenticated, and represent a calculated try to mislead the general public and discredit authorities coverage.”

The Federal Authorities defined that the choice to discontinue absolutely government-funded bilateral scholarships overseas adopted a coverage assessment, which discovered that Nigeria now has “ample capability inside its universities, polytechnics, and faculties of schooling to ship the affected programmes regionally.”

Consequently, solely scholarships absolutely funded by overseas governments at the moment are supported, with all {financial} obligations borne totally by the host international locations.

Nonetheless, the federal government assured that college students already enrolled beneath earlier preparations will proceed to be supported till the completion of their programmes.

The ministry additional said that college students who want to discontinue their research overseas might formally write to the Director, Division of Scholarship Awards.

Such college students will likely be provided the choice of returning to Nigeria, the place they are going to be seamlessly reintegrated into applicable tertiary establishments of their selection, with return journey prices coated by the Federal Authorities.

Alausa mentioned the administration is decided to reform the scholarship system, noting that earlier practices of funding abroad programs already established in Nigeria positioned avoidable pressure on public funds.

The assertion concluded that the continued reforms intention to advertise transparency, accountability, and prudent administration of public sources, whereas reaffirming the federal government’s dedication to the welfare of Nigerian college students and rejecting “misinformation, blackmail, or any try to undermine insurance policies designed to strengthen nationwide capability and safeguard the integrity of the schooling sector.”