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The new National Executive Council of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) led by Comrade Babatunde Akinteye was on Tuesday inaugurated in Abuja with stakeholders describing the ceremony as the beginning of a new era for the student body.
In a congratulatory message, immediate-past Assistant Secretary General of NANS HQ, Comrade Olatunji Adejuwon, hailed the inauguration as historic and said it signals a “vibrant, intellectual, and revolutionary era for millions of Nigerian students both at home and in the diaspora.”
Adejuwon described the new NANS President as “relentlessly hardworking, fiercely independent, and a leader who speaks the absolute truth to power without fear or favour.”
“In an era where compromise is common, your incorruptible character stands as a beacon of hope; you are a leader who cannot be bribed, bought, or swayed from the path of justice,” he stated.
Adejuwon charged Akinteye to make “the complete liberation and elevation of the Nigerian student” the focus of his administration.
He expressed concern over the weakening of Student Union Governments across campuses, saying many have been “stripped of their administrative teeth, reduced to mere ‘student unions’ without the power to govern, protect, or represent their constituents effectively.”
He urged the new NANS leadership to work to “liberate these student governments, restore their autonomy, and rebuild their capacity to act as true partners in progress.”
“Above all, please ensure that student welfare remains the absolute priority of your administration, protecting our students from administrative oppression, academic victimisation, and socioeconomic hardships,” he added.
The former NANS official also called on the association to scrutinise the leadership of tertiary institutions.
“All tertiary institution managements, including Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts who are neck-deep in corruption and failing to do the right thing, must be strictly checked, investigated, and held accountable,” he said.
Adejuwon further urged NANS to extend advocacy to primary and secondary school students, noting that “the younger generation in our primary and secondary schools are highly vulnerable and need our advocacy and protection now more than ever.”
He charged both federal and state governments to fulfill their constitutional duty to protect citizens and provide relief for students.
Citing the current economic climate, Adejuwon said while education is a basic right, “there is an urgent need for the facilitation of robust bursaries, state-sponsored reliefs, and dedicated student welfare funds to cushion the harsh economic climate.”
“We need immediate, accessible relief funds that directly support the average student, ensuring that financial barriers do not halt any Nigerian child’s academic journey,” he said.
Adejuwon expressed confidence in the new president’s capacity to deliver, adding: “We stand solidly behind you as you embark on this journey to write a glorious new chapter in the history of student advocacy.”
