Tinubu’s policies improving student welfare, says NANS

The National Association of Nigerian Students has linked recent developments in education and student welfare to policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, urging students to consider their impact ahead of the 2027 general election.

NANS President, Akinteye Afeez, made the remarks during a meeting between a delegation of the student body and representatives of the APC Youth Network West Africa at the network’s secretariat in Lagos on Friday.

Akinteye highlighted the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), improved electricity supply on some university campuses and a reduction in prolonged industrial actions as developments that could positively affect students’ academic experiences.

He said Nigerian students were closely monitoring government policies and their consequences for their education and welfare, irrespective of their political affiliations.

“Students are not necessarily defined by membership of political parties,” Akinteye said.

According to him, students remained interested in developments that directly affected their academic and social well-being.

“Students are observing developments within the country and the impact of government policies on their education and welfare,” he said.

The NANS president said he would communicate the issues discussed during the engagement to students across the country to ensure they remained informed about developments affecting them.

He also expressed support for the Tinubu administration and disclosed plans to mobilise students in support of the President ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with a reported target of 10 million votes.

The meeting also focused on student welfare, educational development, youth participation, ongoing student projects and possible areas of collaboration between student leaders and the APC Youth Network West Africa.

Akinteye called for stronger cooperation between student leaders and youth stakeholders, saying such relationships were necessary to advance issues affecting young Nigerians.

“There is a need for stronger relationships among student leaders and youth stakeholders,” he said.

The Director-General of the APC Youth Network West Africa, Olatunde Gideon Igbasan, was represented at the meeting by Olumayowa Jose, the Alaaye of Dome-Kwabenya, Accra, Ghana.

Representatives of the network’s Directorate of ICT, Media and Publicity and the Welfare Directorate also attended the meeting.

The meeting provided an avenue for both groups to explore partnerships aimed at improving student welfare, strengthening leadership development and increasing youth participation in national affairs.

The engagement is expected to establish further channels of communication and collaboration between NANS and the APC Youth Network West Africa on issues affecting Nigerian students and young people.(Punch)