Hardship Escalate: Nigerian Scholars Abroad Plead With Tinubu “Release Our Stipends”

Hardship Escalate: Nigerian Scholars Abroad Plead With Tinubu “Release Our Stipends”

Students studying overseas under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship have made an emotional appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to expedite the disbursement of their long-delayed stipends…..READ ALSO Students Resort To Trading Personal Property To Survive Amidst Hardship

Representing scholars in countries such as Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, and Hungary, the coalition highlighted the dire financial hardships faced by many students due to the delayed payments.

Ayuba Anas Yushau, spokesperson for the Coalition of all Nigerian BEA Student Association, expressed the collective frustration in a statement on Wednesday.

“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. Some students have not received any payments since their arrival in April and May 2023,” Yushau revealed.

The delayed stipends, intended for basic living expenses, have left students struggling to afford housing, utilities, and food. The situation has been particularly dire in Russia, where the increased cost of living exacerbates the financial strain caused by stipend delays.

In their plea to President Tinubu, whom they regard as a father figure and visionary leader in education, the students expressed hope for swift action to resolve the issue.

“We earnestly plead with our President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene in this pressing matter. His intervention in ensuring the prompt disbursement of our stipends will not only alleviate our current hardships but also allow us to focus wholeheartedly on our studies,” the statement read.

The students expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s compassionate leadership, believing that his intervention will provide much-needed relief and enable them to pursue their academic endeavors without financial burdens.