Otamere Gladness 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed as false a viral social media notice claiming that the National Award Scholarship Programme has been suspended and the Federal Scholarship Board dissolved.
In a statement issued on Friday, the ministry described the circulating information as misleading and urged students, parents and scholarship beneficiaries to disregard it.
The Friday statement, signed by Director of Press and Public Relations Boriowo Folasade, clarified that the Federal Scholarship Board has only been renamed the Department of Scholarship Awards (DSA), with its responsibilities and programmes remaining fully operational.
“The Federal Government has not suspended any recognised scholarship programme,” the ministry stated.
Officials reassured beneficiaries that scholarship schemes under the ministry remain active and uninterrupted as part of efforts to promote equitable access to education nationwide.
The ministry explained that only the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme was discontinued following a policy review aimed at strengthening domestic tertiary education institutions.
It stressed that the decision does not affect other federal scholarship initiatives, including the Nigerian Scholarship Awards, the Federal Government Bursary for Education Students and the Presidential Scholarship for former NYSC members.
The ministry further assured students that existing BEA beneficiaries will continue receiving full support until they complete their studies.
It added that local scholarship schemes and student loan programmes are being strengthened to provide wider educational opportunities for Nigerians.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 
Hussaini Ibrahim