Parents of Nigerian students studying abroad on government scholarship programmes took to the streets on Monday, barricading the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja as they demanded the immediate release of outstanding allowances owed to their children.
The protesters, many of whom travelled from other states, expressed deep frustration over delayed payments that have persisted for over a year.
According to the demonstrators, their children are beneficiaries of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA), as well as other government-funded scholarship schemes managed by the Federal Scholarship Board.
These students, scattered across countries such as Russia, Morocco, Hungary, and Egypt, are reportedly owed 16 months of stipends, with an additional eight-month payment shortfall yet to be resolved.
Holding placards that read, “Pay our children’s stipends now,” and “Our children are stranded abroad,” the parents described the situation as a humanitarian crisis. Some children have allegedly been evicted from their hostels, while others face food insecurity due to lack of funds.
Speaking to journalists, Mrs. Grace Ekwueme, whose son is studying engineering in Moscow, said the delayed payment has exposed him to “constant humiliation and severe hardship.”
She added, “This is not the first time we are pleading with the government. We were assured several times, but our children are still without their allowances.”
The protest comes after repeated appeals to the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Scholarship Board, which have been met with unfulfilled promises. The parents insist that their children, who are pursuing degrees under bilateral agreements signed with foreign governments, are suffering avoidable stress due to the negligence of Nigerian authorities.
Another parent, Dr. Kabiru Mohammed, explained that his daughter studying medicine in Egypt relies entirely on the scholarship to survive. “She has been borrowing from friends to buy basic necessities. How do you expect her to focus on her studies when she doesn’t know where her next meal is coming from?” he asked.
Attempts to get an official response from the Ministry of Finance were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. However, a source within the ministry hinted that processes were underway to disburse overdue funds, attributing the delay to administrative complications. No timeline was provided.
The Bilateral Education Agreement has long been seen as a prestigious route for bright Nigerian students to gain international education at reduced cost. However, recent lapses in fulfilling scholarship obligations have raised questions about the government’s ability to sustain the programme.
The parents vowed to continue their protest until their demands are met, calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently. They warned that if the delays continue, the academic careers of their children may be irreversibly damaged.
For now, these young scholars remain caught between the pursuit of education and an uncertain future—a situation their parents insist could have been avoided with better management and empathy from the Nigerian government.
