This Is Not a Favor, It Is Your Right” – VDM Speaks Out on Abandoned Nigerian Scholars in Morocco

 

Nigerian Government-Abandoned Scholars in Morocco: A Humanitarian Crisis

A disturbing reality is unfolding in Morocco, where Nigerian students sent abroad on government scholarships have been abandoned without financial support, welfare assistance, or medical care. These students were officially sponsored by the Federal Government of Nigeria to study, especially in critical fields like medicine, with the expectation that they would return home to serve the country. Instead, many of them are now stranded, hungry, sick, and homeless.

Promised Support That Never Came

The scholarship award letters issued by the Federal Ministry of Education promised beneficiaries a monthly stipend of $500, tuition coverage, and basic welfare support. The Nigerian government also paid for their flights to Morocco, showing that a budget was approved for the program.

However, after arriving in Morocco, the students were abandoned. For months—and in some cases, years—no stipends have been paid. Some students have been in Morocco for two to five years without receiving the promised monthly allowance.

Students Not Allowed to Work, Yet Left to Starve

As part of the scholarship agreement between Nigeria and Morocco, the students are not permitted to work legally. This restriction has left them completely dependent on a stipend that never arrives. With no legal means of survival, some students were forced to take risky, illegal jobs just to eat and pay rent.

One student, who arrived in Morocco healthy, had to secretly work to survive. On his way back from work, he was involved in an accident that broke his leg and thigh bone. He could not afford medical bills and remains untreated because of lack of money. This is a direct consequence of institutional neglect.

Preventable Deaths and Untreated Illnesses

The situation has already cost lives. A Nigerian student suffering from tuberculosis avoided going to the hospital because he had no money. The illness worsened over time. By the time his mother managed to intervene, it was too late. He died without receiving proper medical care—despite tuberculosis treatment being available for free in Morocco.

In another case, a student named Umar developed appendicitis and required urgent surgery. The hospital refused to operate until payment was made. The Nigerian embassy had to borrow $1,000 to save his life. Umar had recently lost a parent and could not afford the bill. Without emergency intervention, he would have died.

 

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“This Is Not a Favor, It Is Your Right” – VDM Speaks Out on Abandoned Nigerian Scholars in Morocco

Popular social commentator VeryDarkMan (VDM) has called out the Nigerian government over the abandonment of Nigerian scholarship students in Morocco. In a video recorded in Morocco, VDM spoke directly with stranded Nigerian students and exposed the harsh realities they are facing after being sent abroad on government scholarships and later abandoned without support.

VDM: “This Is Not a Favor, It Is Your Right”

VDM strongly criticized Nigerian leaders for treating students’ welfare as charity instead of obligation:

“This generation now knows what the government is supposed to do. We are not begging. It is not a favor. They brought you here for a reason. It is your right. That money is your right. Nigerian money is all our right. It’s not a favor they are doing for anybody.”

He addressed the Minister of Education and those in power:

“You sent them here. Don’t abandon them here. Pay their school fees. Pay them the money you’re supposed to give them every month. And take care of this man and make sure his leg is okay. If anything happens to him, his blood will be on your head. The President, the Minister of Education, and everybody in power today, please help.”

VDM also rejected claims of political motivation:

“If I talk now, they will say I am being sponsored by another political party. I am not about that. What is right is right. How do you carry people’s children with promises and abandon them?”

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Students: “We Were Given Scholarships, Then Abandoned”

The students explained that they were officially sent to Morocco on Nigerian government scholarships, mainly to study medicine and return to serve Nigeria’s healthcare system.

“We were given scholarship by the Nigerian government to come and study medicine so that we can go back to Nigeria and work in our healthcare.”

Some students said they have been stranded for two to five years:

“I have been here for five years.”
“I have been here for two years.”

They confirmed the scholarship agreement promised them monthly support:

“They promised us $500 every month. It is written in our award letter from the Federal Ministry of Education.”

VDM added:

“The Nigerian government even booked their flights. So there is a budget for this. If the budget has been given to you, what did you do with the money that made these people stranded on the streets of Morocco?”

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Students: “We Are Not Allowed to Work, Yet We Have No Money”

The students explained that their scholarship agreement with Morocco forbids them from working:

“They told us we are not allowed to work because of the agreement between Nigeria and the Moroccan government.”

VDM reacted:

“So these people are stranded. They are not allowed to work, yet they are not being paid.”

One injured student narrated his ordeal:

“I came to Morocco with my body and legs working. Because I had no means of survival, I had to find something doing. On my way back from work, I had an accident and broke my thigh bone. I could not pay my medical bills. Even till now, I have not paid because we don’t have money to survive in this country.”

VDM explained the situation:

“He is not even allowed to work, but because of the predicament the Nigerian government put him through, he had to sneak to work. That’s how he had the accident and broke his leg.”

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Students: “People Are Dying Because We Can’t Afford Hospitals”

One student revealed how lack of money has led to deaths:

“There was a student who was sick. Because he had no money, he did not go to the hospital. The sickness became complicated. It was tuberculosis. Even though treatment is free here, he didn’t know. Before help came, he died. He did not get medical assistance.”

VDM reacted:

“So the guy was scared to go to the hospital because he didn’t have money. That sickness later killed him. This is terrible.”

Another student shared an emergency case:

“Our colleague, Umar, had appendicitis. The hospital said they would not treat him until payment was made. The Nigerian embassy had to borrow $1,000 before he could be operated on. Umar recently lost one of his parents. Without that money, we would have lost him.”

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Students: “Landlords Don’t Want Nigerians Because Nigeria Doesn’t Pay”

The students explained how Nigerian scholars are now stigmatized in Morocco:

“Before landlords give apartments, they ask which country you are from. When they hear Nigeria, they say Nigeria does not pay. They don’t want to rent to Nigerians.”

Another student added:

“Some of our Nigerian colleagues are owing over 12 months’ rent. The landlord said he will send them out after this month.”

VDM confirmed:

“There is even a video of a Moroccan woman protesting with Nigerian students, calling on the Minister of Education to pay them so they can pay her rent.”

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Students: “We Can’t Even Go to the Hospital”

One distressed student said:

“We can’t go to the hospital because of transport money. I was supposed to go to the hospital today, but I don’t have money. We are stranded. No money for transport. No money to buy drugs.”

Another added:

“I left my exams and my studies to come and look for something doing because I want to survive. My father is dead. I have nobody to support me.”

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VDM: “Calling This Disgrace Is Hypocrisy”

VDM condemned officials who accuse the students of disgracing Nigeria:

“When they cry to the media, they say they are disgracing the nation. What is more disgraceful than Nigerians suffering like this abroad? A country that says it is the richest in Africa cannot take care of its scholars, while smaller countries take care of their own students.”

He added:

“Other African students are not owing rent, but Nigerians are owing more than 12 months. That is shameful.”

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Final Message from VDM: “Pay Them What They Are Owed”

VDM concluded with a direct message to the government:

“This is not begging. It is your right. The money is your right. You brought them here. Pay their fees. Pay them the monthly money you promised. Take care of this man’s leg. If anything happens to him, his blood will be on your head.”

“If you were given an office to do what is needed and you don’t do it, close your office. These are our siblings. They were sent here to study and make our country better. What is the meaning of all this?”