Morocco Grants 200 Scholarships to Niger, Strengthens Role as African Educational Hub
Marrakech, The Gulf Observer: Morocco has reinforced its position as a leading educational hub in Africa by granting 200 university scholarships to Niger for the 2025–2026 academic year, a move aimed at deepening bilateral ties and contributing to human capacity building in the West African nation.
According to the media reports, the initiative was announced during the Niger-Morocco Inter-States Committee meeting held from August 4–6 at the headquarters of the Niger Agency for Allocations and Scholarships (ANAB) in Niamey.
The scholarship package includes 150 places for university and technical training and 50 for professional training in fields such as medicine, engineering, sciences, literature, law, and economics.
Idé Oumarou Amadou, President of ANAB’s Board of Directors, highlighted Morocco’s growing appeal as a destination for higher education. “The higher education in Morocco remains a preferred choice, thanks to the quality of training and the welcoming conditions offered to international students,” he said, noting the increasing number of Nigerien students opting for Moroccan universities.
The Moroccan delegation, led by Jaafar Debbarh, Chargé d’Affaires at the Moroccan Embassy in Niamey, reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing academic ties. “This reflects the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who places human capital at the heart of South-South cooperation,” Debbarh stressed.
At the conclusion of the visit on August 6, the Moroccan delegation met with Niger’s Minister of Higher Education Mamadou Saidou. Both parties expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the discussions and pledged to further expand cooperation.
Morocco’s scholarship program for Niger is part of a long-standing partnership dating back to 1976. Since 1990, more than 2,000 Nigerien students have benefitted, with around 700 currently pursuing studies in Moroccan institutions.
Beyond education, bilateral cooperation extends to various sectors including religious training, food security, public health, sustainable agriculture, culture, transportation, civil aviation, hydraulics, energy, security, and counter-terrorism efforts.
Morocco’s role as a regional educational hub is also underscored by international data. A recent Campus France report on global student mobility ranked Morocco among the leading host countries in the Middle East and North Africa, with 22,000 foreign students in 2022. It also remains the top country of origin for foreign students in France, with 43,354 Moroccan nationals representing 10 percent of the foreign student population there in the 2023–2024 academic year.
Moroccan students particularly excel in engineering programs in France, where they make up 19 percent of foreign enrollments.
Meanwhile, Gabon has recently realigned its scholarship policy, designating Morocco as a preferred destination for its students. Beginning in 2025–2026, Gabon will prioritize scholarships for studies in Morocco and other African countries over Western institutions, citing lower costs and stronger graduate return rates. Officials estimate that the average cost per student in Morocco is about $9,174—significantly lower than comparable expenses in Western countries.
