By John Ogunsemore
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said the failure of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to formally engage the association before extending stakeholder engagement invitations to student union presidents in the nation’s institutions of higher learning constitutes a blatant disregard for due process.
This is contained in a statement jointly signed by NANS Zonal Coordinators from across the six geopolitical zones in the country.
The statement which was sent to Daily Sun on Tuesday was signed by Sadi Garba Said (Zone A – North West), Comr. Michael Emmanuel Iwara (Zone B – South South), Comr. Daniel Friday Egga (Zone C – North Central), Comr Owolewa Taiwo (Zone D – South West), Comrade Umar D Afkawa aka Berbatov (Zone E – North East) and Comr. Obinna Charles Ijeomah (Zone F – South East).
In a letter dated April 16, 2025 and signed by its Executive Director, Operations, Mustapha Iyal, NELFUND disclosed that it planned to hold a “stakeholders’ engagement session designed specifically for Student Union presidents only across beneficiary institutions”.
NELFUND said the session would hold in Abuja on May 8, 2025.
However, NANS said the agency should have carried the association along in its programme.
The statement reads, “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is the umbrella body of all Nigerian students both at home and in the diaspora, and the most virile, organised, and recognised student advocacy group in Nigeria.
“It is on this strength that the Forum of Zonal Coordinators, comprising leadership from Zone A (North West), Zone B (North East), Zone C (North Central), Zone D (South West), Zone E (South East), and Zone F (South South), issues this collective statement to address a disturbing procedural oversight by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).”
NANS emphasised that it did not oppose the idea of engaging directly with Students’ Union Presidents and welcome initiatives aimed at enlightening and empowering student leaders.
However, the association said it was “greatly concerned that due protocol and respect for structure have been completely ignored in this process”.
“NANS, as the apex body and legitimate representative of all Nigerian students, including SUG presidents, is constitutionally positioned to coordinate and facilitate such interactions. The failure of NELFUND to formally notify or engage NANS leadership before circulating this invitation is unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent.
“It is important to state clearly: NANS is not an obstacle to progress. We are, in fact, deeply committed to the advancement, inclusion, and welfare of all Nigerian students. Our concern lies in the deliberate circumvention of due process, which not only undermines our leadership but also disregards the unity and collective voice of the student movement in Nigeria.
“We consider this move a significant oversight, and one that can easily be corrected if NELFUND is indeed sincere in its desire to engage with students.
“We therefore demand that the meeting scheduled for May 8th, 2025, be put on hold until proper consultation with the NANS leadership at the national, zonal, and state levels is carried out.
“Anything short of this will be viewed as a calculated attempt to sideline the legitimate student leadership and weaken the organised representation of Nigerian students,” the association stated.
NANS said it remained available for meaningful dialogue and collaboration but such must be on a foundation of mutual respect, proper structure, and the recognition of the association as the voice of over 40 million Nigerian students.