The Federal Government has disclosed that it disbursed the sum of N3.8 billion to stranded Nigerian scholars abroad in recent years.
The Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, stated this on Thursday in Abuja while he received the House of Representatives Committee on TETFund.
He revealed that the Fund has taken care of 1,500 scholars with a total of N3.8 billion extended.
Speaking on the reported delay in scholarship payments, Echono clarified that due to the recent rise in foreign exchange rates, many scholars from various countries like the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and others raised concerns.
These concerns were brought to the attention of the National Assembly, the Presidential Villa, the Ministry of Education, and even TETFund.
“We were happy that the response was very positive and that was why we were able to secure the President’s approval and do what we called the bail out or assistance.
“We did observe that part of the challenge”, he said.
“In the past, each time we send funding for the institutions, we send money directly to the schools and it is the responsibility of the institutions to now remit to the students.
“However, for illegitimate and legitimate reasons, many of the institutions came back to us and complained that it takes a whole lot of time to process the transfers to central bank.
“But we now pay directly to the institution as part of our intervention”, he added.
Echono also revealed that before now, Nigeria was not doing well in the area of research grants.
He, however, added that efforts had been made as Nigeria had now moved from the 9th position to the 7th position in the African research grant.