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By John Ogunsemore
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest Zone D, in collaboration with the Forum of Joint Campus Committee (JCC) State Chairmen across the region, has announced its unified endorsement of Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, popularly known as Babtee, for the position of NANS National President ahead of the forthcoming national convention in May.
The endorsement was contained in a statement jointly signed by the NANS JCC Oyo Chairman and Chairman of Chairmen, Comrade Tiamiyu Ademola; NANS JCC Osun Chairman, Comrade Solomon Ayobami; NANS JCC Ogun Chairman, Comrade Gabriel Abiola; NANS JCC Ondo Chairman, Comrade Adekanye Mayomi; NANS JCC Lagos Chairman, Comrade Abdulraheem A. Quadri; and NANS JCC Ekiti Chairman, Comrade Ayeni Micheal.
According to the statement sent to SunOnline on Friday, the decision followed extensive consultations among student leaders, stakeholders, and representatives across the six Southwest states, with a shared resolve to present a candidate who possesses the experience, credibility, and leadership capacity required to steer the affairs of the association at a crucial time for Nigerian students.
The JCC chairmen noted that the endorsement of Akinteye is further reinforced by the earlier adoption of his candidacy by elders, stakeholders, and prominent leaders within the NANS Southwest structure, who unanimously agreed that he represents the most credible and capable candidate to fly the flag of the region at the national level.
They emphasised that the decision represents the collective will of the Southwest student movement, reflecting the position of campus leadership structures and the broader student community across the six states of Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, and Ekiti.
The statement noted that the endorsement was based largely on Akinteye’s long-standing commitment to the Nigerian student movement and his extensive track record of service within the NANS structure.
According to the Chairmen, Akinteye rose through the ranks of student leadership, beginning as a Joint Campus Council Chairman where he demonstrated strong grassroots mobilisation and engagement with campus-based student structures. He later served as Vice President for External Affairs, where he expanded the reach of the association and championed the welfare of Nigerian students both within the country and in the diaspora.
The statement further noted that he later served as Senate President of NANS, the highest legislative office of the association, where he presided over the affairs of the Senate with courage, discipline, and a firm commitment to the principles and constitution of the student body.
The chairmen also highlighted several interventions credited to Akinteye in the course of his leadership journey, including his involvement during the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Direct Entry registration crisis in Lagos, where he engaged authorities to secure deadline extensions for affected students.
They also recalled his presence during the evacuation of Nigerian students from Sudan during the conflict, noting that he personally received and supported returning students at the airport, an action they described as a demonstration of compassionate leadership.
According to the statement, Akinteye also played an active role in nationwide protests against the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), advocating for the immediate resolution of the industrial dispute which disrupted academic activities across Nigerian universities.
The signatories further cited his intervention in defending students’ rights, including his engagement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which led to the release of wrongfully arrested students of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), as well as his role in facilitating the reinstatement of the Students’ Union Government at the University of Benin.
They added that his humanitarian interventions have also extended to crisis situations within campuses, including his response to the hostel fire incident at the Obafemi Awolowo University and his engagement with stakeholders over tragic incidents affecting students in higher institutions.
The statement added that beyond his past contributions, Akinteye has also presented what he describes as the EPOCH Agenda, a forward-looking vision aimed at repositioning NANS into a more impactful and responsive platform for Nigerian students.
According to the signatories, the agenda focuses on empowering Nigerian students, expanding opportunities for scholarships and mentorship, improving student welfare, building stronger collaborations with government and private sector stakeholders, and strengthening human capacity development among Nigerian students.
The chairmen noted that the vision aligns with the aspirations of the Southwest student community, which has consistently advocated for progressive, strategic, and development-oriented leadership within the national student body.
They therefore called on student leaders, elders, and stakeholders across the Southwest to support the consensus decision and rally behind the candidacy of Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez at the forthcoming national convention.
