In the face of escalating living costs and volatile exchange rates, Nigerian scholars pursuing their studies abroad under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund's (TETFund) Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) programme have found themselves in a precarious situation. According to Premium Times Nigeria, these scholars, particularly those in Malaysia, have sought TETFund's intervention to alleviate their financial burdens.
Abdulmumin Oniyangi, TETFund's Acting Director of Public Affairs, highlighted that the agency had received bailout requests from scholars in Malaysia, India, and Kenya. He assured that plans are in motion to address these shortfalls. "The deficits in the living expenses of the scholars are being calculated by the Fund. The amounts will be paid directly to the eligible scholars and later recovered from the subsequent allocations of the affected beneficiary institutions," Oniyangi stated.
However, Oniyangi pointed a finger at the scholars' parent institutions in Nigeria, accusing them of not adhering to TETFund's guidelines. He emphasised that since 2019, TETFund had modified its operations to shield scholars from the impacts of fluctuating foreign exchange rates. Despite these measures, some institutions failed to comply, leading to the current predicament faced by the scholars.
TETFund has initiated direct payments of living expenses to scholars from their second year onwards, absorbing any exchange rate variations to rectify this. The Fund has also proposed increasing the living expenses rate for scholars to align with living abroad costs.
For Nigerians, this situation underscores the importance of ensuring that the nation's brightest minds, representing the country abroad, receive the support they deserve.
Abdulmumin Oniyangi, TETFund's Acting Director of Public Affairs, highlighted that the agency had received bailout requests from scholars in Malaysia, India, and Kenya. He assured that plans are in motion to address these shortfalls. "The deficits in the living expenses of the scholars are being calculated by the Fund. The amounts will be paid directly to the eligible scholars and later recovered from the subsequent allocations of the affected beneficiary institutions," Oniyangi stated.
However, Oniyangi pointed a finger at the scholars' parent institutions in Nigeria, accusing them of not adhering to TETFund's guidelines. He emphasised that since 2019, TETFund had modified its operations to shield scholars from the impacts of fluctuating foreign exchange rates. Despite these measures, some institutions failed to comply, leading to the current predicament faced by the scholars.
TETFund has initiated direct payments of living expenses to scholars from their second year onwards, absorbing any exchange rate variations to rectify this. The Fund has also proposed increasing the living expenses rate for scholars to align with living abroad costs.
For Nigerians, this situation underscores the importance of ensuring that the nation's brightest minds, representing the country abroad, receive the support they deserve.
