Federal Ministry Of Education Debunks False Report On BEA Committee, Says, “No Committee Was Inaugurated”

BY ABU-SATAR HAMED

FCT, ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Federal Ministry of Education has alerted the public to a false and misleading press release currently circulating in the media under the headline: “BEA: Education Minister receives committee’s report.”

In a press release e-signed and made available to StarTrend Int’l magazine and online platform, Mrs. Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press & Public Relations of the Ministry, clarified that the circulating report falsely claims that the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, inaugurated a committee to oversee the reintegration of returning Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholars into Nigerian universities.

The false report is also based on the incorrect assertion that the BEA Programme has been cancelled.

The Ministry categorically refuted the claims, stating that no such committee has been inaugurated, and no reintegration plan exists for BEA scholars. The public is therefore urged to disregard the misinformation entirely.

Referencing the official press release dated May 7, 2025, the Ministry affirmed that the Federal Government has indeed discontinued the BEA Scholarship Programme.

This move, it explained, is part of a broader strategic policy shift aimed at prioritizing and strengthening Nigeria’s domestic tertiary education system.

The decision followed a comprehensive policy review, which revealed that all academic programmes previously offered abroad under the BEA are now available – often at higher quality – within Nigerian universities and polytechnics.

Despite the discontinuation of new BEA awards, the Ministry assured that all ongoing BEA scholars will continue to enjoy full government sponsorship.

This includes payment of tuition fees, stipends, and all other approved entitlements until they complete their academic programmes.

However, the Ministry strongly advised the public to rely only on verified information released through its official communication channels.