FG Clarifies Status of BEA Scholarship in 2026 Budget

The Federal Government of Nigeria has clarified that the BEA scholarship program has not been reinstated in the 2026 budget, countering widespread online reports suggesting a reversal of the decision to discontinue new foreign scholarship awards. This clarification was provided by the Ministry of Education in response to public concerns.

Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa explained that the 2025 national budget, which has already been passed into law, halted the process for new BEA scholarship awards around April or May of the year. The current budget statement indicates that provisions for the BEA scholarship remain intact within the 2025 budget framework.

The 2026 budget operates largely as a rollover of the 2025 fiscal plan, with approximately 30 percent of the previous year's budget retained. The Ministry reassured that current beneficiaries of the BEA scholarship studying abroad will continue to receive full government support, emphasizing that the budget figures should not be misinterpreted.