New NANS leaders to emerge May 24

…inaugurates committee for convention 

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced the commencement of the processes that would, expectedly, culminate in the emergence of new leaders for the Association.

At a press conference in Abuja, on Wednesday, NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, informed journalists that an Independent Convention Planning Committee (ICPC) has been inaugurated to organise its 2026 National Convention scheduled to hold in May in Abuja.

Chairman of the ICPC, Omotayo Oladele Samuel, who outlined the planning process, procedures and timetable for the convention, said the committee had been mandated to coordinate and oversee all activities leading to the successful conduct of the 2026 national convention.

To ensure efficient planning and coordination of the event, the ICPC chairman said several sub-committees had been constituted to handle specific responsibilities. “The committees include Screening and Verification; Screening Appeal; Venue and Protocol; Welfare and Entertainment; Accommodation; Security; Stakeholders Engagement; Medical and Emergency; Media and Publicity; Fundraising and Finance; Election Management; Transport and Logistics; Contact and Mobilisation; and Accreditation.”

He disclosed that each sub-committee comprises at least 10 members drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country to ensure inclusiveness and balanced representation.

He also noted that the committee had also put up disciplinary measures in place to address any misconduct by members during the planning process. “Delegates would begin arriving for the convention on May 20, while a peace accord involving aspirants and the Department of State Services (DSS) would take place on May 21.

“The same day will also feature a presidential debate among aspirants contesting for the position of NANS president. Registration and publication of the final list of accredited delegates will take place on May 22, followed by accreditation on May 23 and the main election on May 24. Delegates are expected to depart on May 25.”

Oladele thus urged Students’ Union Governments (SUGs) across tertiary institutions to work closely with their respective Joint Campus Committee (JCM) chairmen in processing accreditation forms for delegates.

He stressed that all nomination forms for aspirants are free of charge, warning that late submissions would not be accepted under any circumstances.

The ICPC chairman assured stakeholders and aspirants that the committee would ensure fairness, transparency and strict adherence to the rules guiding the convention. “To this end, we call for the cooperation of all stakeholders as we work collectively to ensure a successful NANS 2026 convention,” he said.