- highlight strategic engagement areas with VCs, organizations
From Fred Ezeh Abuja
Senior Special Assistant to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, on Students Engagement, Sunday Asefon, has vowed to initiate “fight” with any institutions or corporate organization, government or private, that treat students with disdain.
He said the President has demonstrated his love and care for Nigerian students through his recent utterances and actions, hence it will be unacceptable for any institutions or corporate organization to go against the desire of the President as regards welfare and well-being of Nigerian students.
Asefon, at a press conference to unveil Nigerian students’ flag and the Renewed Hope Students’ Agenda, in Abuja, on Thursday, restated the desire of the President to have a platform that would serve as a bridge for students’ engagement in governance, policy formulation, and implementation to foster student’s leadership.
He, however, highlighted several areas that would help him and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to achieve the desire of the President for the students, including the periodic regional dialogue for student leaders; annual international students’ day celebration; all tertiary institutions affairs conference.
He said that plans are also on ground to strengthen engagement of local and foreign student bodies; provide numerous digital skills and training scholarship scheme; as well as quarterly engagements with past and current student leaders to dissect social investment and empowerment programmes, among several others.
He confirmed that efforts are on to strengthen partnership and collaborations with private sector for subsidized products and services in tertiary institutions, especially food companies, telecom companies, banks and several other service providing companies.
Asefon who is a former NANS President, assured Nigerian students that the proposed students loan will soon kick off, and it will be
evenly distributed to qualified beneficiaries across the country irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliations.
He also disclosed that, in collaboration with NANS and other relevant stakeholders like the EFCC, ICPC, NDLEA, NOA, Security Agencies and Federal Ministry of Education, there will soon be a launch of campaign and sensitization on drug abuse, indecent dressing, cyber crimes and other vices.
He appealed to Students and other Nigerians to increase their support and prayers for the President, assuring them that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President will bring good opportunities and better life for the students both in and out of the campuses.