Nigerian scholars abroad face dire financial straits as the government defaults on stipends promised under the Bilateral Education Agreement. Chronic delays in payments leave students struggling to meet basic needs, juggling jobs, seeking loans, and facing eviction threats.
For over a decade, Nigeria's Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) has sent students abroad, promising financial support for sustenance. However, chronic failures in meeting financial obligations have left hundreds of scholars facing hardships in foreign lands.
Under the BEA, students are entitled to allowances for living expenses, clothing, and health insurance, along with a take-off grant. Yet, many haven't received stipends for up to 11 months, pushing them into desperate measures.
From juggling illegal jobs with studies to seeking loans and selling personal belongings, these scholars, mostly from low-income families, are struggling to make ends meet. Despite contractual obligations, limited accommodation slots mean students are forced to rent apartments, draining their meager stipends.
With the looming threat of eviction due to Nigeria's default on payments, these young scholars find themselves in dire circumstances, far from home and without the support they were promised.
Source: The CABLE
