International students under the Federal Government Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and a few other countries have pleaded with the Nigerian Government to urgently pay their unpaid stipends to enable them survive in the respective countries they reside.
A statement signed by Spokesman of the Coalition of all the Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Student Association, Ayuba Yushau, stated that for the past six to eight months, scholars enrolled in various institutions abroad have endured financial strain due to the delay in receiving their stipends.
“In addition, from the last payments we received, there was a shortfall of practically two and a half months’ payment.
“Moreover, some students in China have not received any stipends since they arrived in April and May 2023,” the statement added.
The statement said that the delay has been harder for students in countries like Morocco, with no adequate provisions for school hostels.
“This means that stipends are crucial for covering basic expenses such as housing, electricity bills, handouts, internet bills, water bills, transportation, and food,” the statement added.
It further stated that with the delay in stipend disbursement, some students have faced eviction as they struggled to meet rent payments while others have tragically fallen ill due to hunger, requiring urgent medical attention.
“Similarly, students in Russia are grappling with the harsh reality of an increased cost of living, exacerbated by the prolonged delay in stipend disbursement. Forced to navigate financial hardships amidst the pressures of academic stress, many students have been pushed to the breaking point which is diverting their focus from their primary goal of academic excellence,” it said.
It noted that due to the economic reality of the nation, the students, receive insufficient or no additional support from their parents.
“Moreover, prohibitions on employment in many of our host BEA Countries restrict our ability to supplement our incomes.
“We implore the Nigerian government to recognize the plight of its scholars abroad and take immediate action to alleviate their suffering. As the nation grapples with economic hardships, it is imperative to prioritize the welfare of our students who represent the future of our country,” the statement said.
The students pleaded with President President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene “as a father figure and a visionary in education”.
“His intervention in ensuring the prompt disbursement of our stipends will not only alleviate our current hardships but also allow us, his scholars, to focus wholeheartedly on our studies. We are confident that under President Tinubu’s compassionate and forward-thinking leadership, swift action will be taken to resolve this issue, enabling us to continue our academic pursuits without the burden of financial strain,” the statement concluded.
When THE WHISTLER contacted the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Augustina Obilor on the issue, she did not pick her calls nor reply to the Whatsapp messages sent to her.
‘Pay Our Stipends, We Are Suffering Economic Hardship’ -International Students On FG’s Scholarship Beg Tinubu is first published on The Whistler Newspaper