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Tag: NANS

  • NANS alleges plans to punish EKSU students for protest

    NANS alleges plans to punish EKSU students for protest

    •Institution debunks claims

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ekiti State University (EKSU) chapter, has alleged plans by the institution’s authorities to punish students that participated in a protest two weeks ago.

    The students peacefully protested the authorities’ decision to enforce a “no fee no lecture” rule.

    In a statement yesterday, the association’s Chairman, Comrade Damilare Bewaji, said the students would resist the decision through another protest, if it is not reversed.

    He said: “Is it a crime for students to peacefully agitate for their rights in a democratic government? It is wicked of the authorities to have invited and interrogated a select section of students over a peaceful protest.

    “They set up a panel to try the coordinators of the protest. They should tell the public when it became a crime for students to embark on a peaceful protest.”

    The authorities denied any plan to punish the organisers of the protest.

    The Deputy Registrar, Information, said the “students were cooking up lies to malign the authorities”.

    He also debunked the rumour that the authorities have allowed the students to pay their fees in installments.

    He said the “condition for allowing students into the lecture rooms remains full payments of requisite fees.”

     

  • Is all well with the house of NANS? (3)

    Is all well with the house of NANS? (3)

    When I started out writing this series about NANS two weeks ago, my major concern was the dwindling platform of responsible student unionism on our campuses. As I conclude today, it never occurred to me that the NANS I’m writing about has been hijacked, first by cultists and later by politicians in the march toward 2015. It was in the process of trying to sift the ‘wheat from the chaff’ and write a balanced informed commentary that this fact stared me straight in the face. I got series of calls and SMS from former officials of NANS who have already graduated and undergraduates from various campuses across the country on this issue; this goes to show the importance the students attach to their umbrella national body.

    I also got calls and correspondence from Prince Miaphen and Yinka Gbadebo, both of whom are on familiarization tours of campuses; Miaphen called from ATBU, Bauchi and Gbadebo from the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State. But one issue that still bothers me is that Miaphen and Gbadebo are standing their grounds on the presidency of NANS and are crisscrossing campuses to sell their respective agenda. In essence, we have a divided NANS. This break, as I deduced is based on principles and policies. While I was able to get a clear-cut direction and policy thrust from Miaphen, I was unable to get any from Gbadebo save he is the authentic candidate that won NANS presidency at Uyo last year. This, in my opinion, is not the best approach for someone that intends to lead an association of student intellectuals.

    What actually transpired in Uyo is quite contentious as each group gives different versions. But one thing is clear, all the candidates met with the SSS before the convention. Did the SSS conducted its own investigations into the allegations made and if they did, were they satisfied with their investigations or were there other powers pulling the strings from behind? Whichever way we look at it whatever is unraveling now could portend well for Nigerian students’ if they are able to rise to the occasion, take the bull by the horn and actually cause the type of nation they envision to come to being, and they can do this peacefully.

    In a bid to try and see if I could bring the contenders toward a common ground, I asked them what their agenda or plans for Nigerian students were. Gbadebo promised to send me some materials, but as at the time of writing this concluding series I never got the materials. But Miaphen sent me his inaugural press conference during his inauguration where he laid out his plans. He said NANS has lost touch with its “grassroots” because it has become an Abuja affair doing the biddings of the political elites. “It is said that a river that loses its course is bound to dry up with time, and the only way to rejuvenate such a river is to re-direct it to its original course”.

    He also added that the detachment of NANS from campuses created a leeway for campus cultism and other social vices to thrive eroding the gains made when the association was fully on ground on campuses. He also added that he wants students and authorities to focus on the deteriorating state of infrastructures on campuses and the fact that no Nigerian university is mentioned in the first 500 list in global university ranking. “If our universities cannot measure up to the universities of other countries –even some impoverished African countries – then how do we expect our graduates to miraculously measure up to the graduates of other countries”? He also addressed national issues like terrorism and flooding in the nation last year.

    Right from my secondary school days I’d often admired the undergraduates that were bold enough to confront the military authorities of that era despite threats, rustications and outright expulsions from the university, I knew of some whose future ended with their expulsion from the university for daring to stand up to the military authority. What these student heroes did in the past remained in my consciousness right through my own time in the university and I erroneously assumed that this is what is obtained today. This is the fundamental reason I’m concerned about NANS. But unfortunately, the fight for the jugular of responsible unionism is now between politicians and cultists and not responsible undergraduates. To the politicians because of the mass appeal of students, and to the cultists because of the power it commands.

    I believe some readers might be wondering why politicians would want to dabble into student affairs. The answer is simple; the association holds a special place for politicians because with the advent of mobile technology the brazen acts of barefaced rigging would gradually wane and as we move closer to higher voters’ literacy and the manipulation of technology, students would have a critical role to play and definitely come in handy.

    Let’s rewind to 2011 to clarify the point I’m trying to make here. President Goodluck Jonathan spin doctors did an excellent job positioning their candidate in the 2011 election. They positioned him as Nigeria’s first “facebook president” and in the process millions of the country’s disillusioned youths campaigned and actually voted for him. They made the other contenders “old” and out of tune with “current realities.” But it is doubtful if they can pull this string and put the wool in the eyes of the youths in 2015 as it will be a different Jonathan from the one who contested in 2011 as his popularity rating has dropped to an all-time low. It will be a man who squandered the exceptional goodwill of 2011 – the sort of goodwill that led to the publication of a Facebook-inspired book titled, ‘My Friends & I’. The 2011 goodwill was unprecedented in Nigerian politics. So what is happening in NANS today, according to some students, is the subtle struggle for relevance.

    One of the contenders told me that a particular candidate is fronting for “powerful forces in Abuja”. He threw a poser to me: “Where does all the money to move around campuses come from, who foots the bill? So we will stand our ground and fight those with anti-people policies who do not want anything good for Nigeria. We will go about this peacefully and through enlightenment. That is our goal and responsibility”. He told me.

    Those of us that have the opportunity to interact and interface with youths’ regularly know too well that they are disillusioned and will always ask if this is the way things will remain. This disillusionment has driven most of them to start to become politically conscious, thanks to the internet which has really made the world a global village. They can now see youths in other countries fighting for their rights and questioning authoritarian regimes and demanding accountability. It will be downright foolhardy for anyone to think that things like that can never happen in Nigeria. If you interact with youths – like I do regularly – you’d know that it is just a matter of time.

    Late Chief MKO Abiola’s success in 1993 was largely because he was able to capture the youth’s imagination with his “Hope 93” campaigns but he was also able to keep them in rewarding engagements during his campaigns. He didn’t share money like politicians usually do but he employed young people and many were just happy to work for him. Some of us did. For any politician to think he can ride roughshod over the youths this time around, he should have a rethink.

    In the past, student unionism in Nigeria was known to be a force to be reckoned with. Between the 1970s-90s students, through their unions, were known to stand firm in criticizing the injustices of our leaders thereby effecting major changes. There were instances when the authorities clashed with students when diplomatic precautions failed to work; the 1978 ABU students riots quickly comes to mind. During the uprising many students’ lives were lost while agitating for the ouster of the then education minister, Colonel Ahmadu Ali; yes the same Ahmadu Ali that was the chairman of PDP. The “Ali Must Go” demonstrations, like many in those days, were a landmarks achievement by student unionism in Nigeria: it dawned on our leaders that students knew their rights and can fight oppression no matter the intimidation.

  • College gets NANS award

    College gets NANS award

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has presented its certificate of excellence to Oyeleke Memorial College, Offa in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State after selecting the institution as the “Best Productive College in Nigeria in 2012.”

    While presenting the award to the Proprietress of the college, NANS Senate President Kolade Olaoluwa said the award was given to the school because of its sound moral and academic record.

    Represented by the chairman of the association’s award committee Salaudeen A. Luqman, the NANS chief said: “It is NANS’ culture to encourage those who have passion for the development of education in this country. NANS is also determined to stem the tide of cultism and other anti-social behaviours in our primary and secondary schools. We have started investigating some primary and secondary schools in the country because these are where students’ characters are formed.

    “That informed this award. We commend primary and secondary schools that have good moral and academic upbringing for their wards. The choice of Oyeleke Memorial College resulted from the outstanding moral and academic performance of its products who are members of NANS.

    “The recent performance of the college in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination made the college stand out. Therefore, NANS is honouring the school as the best productive in Nigeria.

    “The award used to given to colleges of education, polytechnics and universities. The honour is to spur the college for greater achievements. It should not rest on its oars for the betterment of Nigerian educational system.”

    Responding, the Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Ayodele Oyeleke thanked the NANS for recognising her school.

    She assured that the school would not rest on its oars, adding that the “honour is due to hard work which I have always been preaching.”

  • Is all well with the house of NANS (1)?

    Is all well with the house of NANS (1)?

    All around the world, universities are established to push forward the frontiers of knowledge, transform people’s lives and contribute to the health and wealth of our nation through their deep involvement in result oriented researches which is expected to have impact in the wider society and the economy. It is within this premise that I’ll like to address an issue that has been on my mind for some time now, the issue of student unionism. I have been putting it off but it now calls for attention as I continue to receive correspondences from different individuals purporting to be “president” of NANS.

    From my last count – which may not be conclusive – there are at least three “presidents” of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). “Comrade” Yinka Gbadebo, “Comrade” Adelu Monehim James, and Prince Miaphen all claim they’re the duly elected president of the uniform student body; what this portends therefore is that there is a split. Despite the controversy surrounding the December 2012 elections, Gbadebo was sworn in last month at an elaborate ceremony in Abuja that had in attendance Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State and other dignitaries.

    For those old enough to remember the military era, they will recollect the part student unions played in giving the military sleepless nights. How can one forget Olusegun Okeowo, late Chris Abashi and a host of others? Then student unionism was ideologically driven with detailed and intelligent analysis of the state of the nation, regular communique that are deep with insight and knowledge are released, not the shallow statements that we see from the stable of representatives of Nigerian students these days.

    Student unionism in Nigeria has a cherished and glorious history that is worth reenacting here. The emergence of West African Student Union (WASU) pioneered by some Nigerian students in London in 1925 opened the floodgate of student unionism in the country. WASU fought the colonial masters for the rights of Africans. This was followed by the National Union of Nigerian Students, (NUNS) whose last leader was Olusegun Okeowo. The NUNS was proscribed by the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. But with the advent of democratic rule, Nigerian students converged at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos to establish NANS. NANS inherited the same idealism from WASU and NUNS and the student union matched on as a platform of change and of informed activism. Has that same cherished tradition continued to date? We’ll find out.

    At its 26th convention, student delegates from institutions of higher learning across Nigeria converged in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, and elected Yinka Gbadebo of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife as the president of NANS. However, one notable feature which has been the norm in past conventions since student unionism started was left out; the students did not discuss the state of the nation. I recollect reading a report then where one disappointed delegate described the failure to discuss current issues as “evidence of the level of degeneration in NANS.” He added that the organization used to be at the forefront of the struggle for the liberation of Nigeria’s downtrodden and oppressed classes. This, no doubt, is one informed delegate.

    I can still recall vividly, just like I mentioned earlier that NANS served as an active resistance group during the era of military regimes in Nigeria. It was part of the movement that fought for a return to civil rule in the country. By 1990, NANS was at the peak of its glory, having played a significant role in rousing Nigerians to protest the Structural Adjustment Program imposed by the Ibrahim Babangida regime at the urging of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

    The same 1990 also marked the beginning of what would be a split within the organization five years later. NANS annual convention was fixed to hold on November 30, 1990 at Auchi Polytechnic. Eventually, after much intrigue and disagreements, the convention opened a day later and at a different venue: the University of Benin, (UNIBEN).

    After the controversial and heated convention, NANS witnessed a split along ethno-religious lines when a former undergraduate from Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto (UDUSOK), announced a “Northern NANS”. This almost tore the union apart, but the students eventually came together after finding a common ground of agreement. However, that split fostered deeper ideological conflicts and schisms between different interest groups and weakened the broad platform of NANS; this unfortunately has continued to date. This compelled another delegate years to allege that: “Student unionism has been infiltrated by dirty money politics as well as brigandage by members of some confraternities and cult groups”.

    But some activists of the past also strike more sympathetic notes. They see the new developments as not simply evidence of student leaders’ “degeneration,” but as a symptom of broader problems in the larger society like in 2005 when the then NANS president Orkuma Hembe used the platform to campaign for Obasanjo’s third term gambit and even went further to award him “Defender of Democracy”. Perhaps he was too young, or does not have a sense of history to recollect that it was this same defender of democracy that proscribed NUNS and under whose administration some NUNS fighters were rusticated from their various Universities.

    To try to understand the present crisis in NANS is to also understand that the larger Nigerian malaise is also affecting the association. If you think the principle of zoning of political office is a creation of the Federal Character Commission or the PDP, then you have another think coming. There is zoning provision in the constitution of NANS, and this does not permit anybody other than a Student of an institution of higher learning in the South-West to contest last year’s election, according to the Constitution and Charter of Demand of NANS. The student body is actually zoned into four zones.

    Immediately after the Uyo Convention which brought it Gbadebo as President, one of the aggrieved contestants, Adelu Monehin James petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan on what he termed the “illegal declaration of Yinka Gbadebo as NANS president”. James, in the petition, described the election as “a mere formality by some elements to endorse an individual who had been positioned to hijack the Association to achieve an end that contravenes the yearnings and aspirations of the over forty millions Nigerian students. Having taking (sic) my time to appraise the convention and what transpired, in the interest of national peace and security, I have decided to write His Excellency as the Chief Security Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the position that I am taking in the best interest of the nation so that I can jealously protect the interests of all Nigerian students’ home and abroad”.

    He claimed that before the election, stakeholders meetings of the Association and all the presidential aspirants were held with the State Security Services (SSS). In these meetings, some of the vital issues raised and agreed upon in line with the constitution of the Association were: That all the contestants should submit their profile to the office of the SSS including their intent forms to be duly signed by their respective Head of Departments (HOD), “but unfortunately, Mr. Yinka Gbadebo’s form was not signed by any HOD because he is not a student of any known institution in Nigeria”.

    The petitioner tasked the office of the SSS to liaise with various institutions claimed by the aspirants in the profile to authenticate their studentship because any aspirant who is not certified to be a student of any tertiary institution recognized by JAMB, NUC and other education regulatory bodies should be disqualified.

    According to him, the SSS collected and collated information of all the aspirants particularly the presidential aspirants “but unfortunately nobody was disqualified despite the fact that, certain individuals were discovered not to be matriculated students of any institution as claimed Mr. Yinka Gbadebo inclusive. All these were agreed upon in order to ensure that genuine students who can be held accountable for their actions and in-actions are allowed to pilot the affairs of the organization”. At the Uyo convention, twelve people contested for the office of the president. They include; Yinka Gbadebo, Adelabu Adeola, Kazeem O. Kazeem, Prince Maiphem, Isaac Odiyan, Adelu Monehin James and Victor Magress.

  • NANS appeals to Plateau lecturers, govt

    NANS appeals to Plateau lecturers, govt

    The Plateau State axis of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC), an arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has called on the striking lecturers in state-owned tertiary institutions to accept the offer made by the government and return to work. The call came as the state awaits the court judgment on “no work, no pay” labour law.

    The JCC made the call during a press briefing in Jos, following the decision of the state lecturers to resume strike action due to non implementation of the demands already granted the union by the state government.

    In a press statement jointly signed by the NANS Zone C co-ordinator, Henry Pam, and president, National Association of Plateau State Students (NAPSS), Promise Yatu, the student body called on the government to speed up the implementation process while appealing to the lecturers to reconsider their position and return to their campuses.

    The JCC said having cautiously assessed the issues at stake and the demands placed before government by the lecturers, it urged both parties to consider students, whose future was being affected by the strike.

    The statement reads: “We are aware that the three months salary and other underpaid arrears are the first two demands by the tertiary staff. These demands are now affected by the legal framework of ‘no work, no pay’. The court’s decision should be the final for both parties. Furthermore, the centralisation of salaries of all workers in the state is to correct anomalies caused by ghost workers. Opposition of lecturers to this cannot be a ground for protest. We urge them to support the government’s effort in sanitising public sector and protect public funds.”

    Since some of the demands of the lecturers union have been consented to by the government, the student body urged the teachers to get back to work.

    “This is a nation governed by the rule of law. We believe that National Industrial Court’s decision shall be binding on both government and striking workers. Neither government nor workers will overrule the decision of the court.”

    The Committee also called on the students to remain calm and resist attempts by anyone or group to use their plight for evil motive. “We caution all those that want to incite students into acts of violence to desist from such evil machinations; they should deploy their energies for the good of our state,” the NANS said.

     

  • Yinka Gbadebo Sworn in as new NANS President

    Yinka Gbadebo Sworn in as new NANS President

    Com. Yinka Gbadebo, the newly elected President of the National Association of Nigerian Students was last Thursday sworn in as them legitimate and democratic 27th President of the association.

    The inauguration ceremony which took place at the Abuja International Conference Centre with the theme “Repositioning Nigerian Students for National Socio-political Development’’ had the crème de la crème of the society in attendance and these include the: Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha; Engr. Jide Adeniji, Chairman, Governinig Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA); Professor Sidi Osho, Vice Chancellor, AfeBabalolaUniversity, Ado-Ekiti; and Com. Jude Imagwe, SSA to President Goodluck Jonathan on Students and Youth Affairs who represented the Nigerian President at the event.

    Shortly after Yinka Gbadebo, who was welcomed up stage with the inspirational and highly-spirited Great Ife anthem, was sworn in, he observed his first constitutional duty as he made his other official members take the oath office to serve the utmost interest of the association

    Those who took the oath include: Comrade Jubril Ahmed, Vice President, National Affairs (A.BU. Zaria); Comrade Peculiar Asemota, Vice President External Affairs (A.A.U. Ekpoma); Comrade Ubon Marcus, Vice President Special Duties (UNIUYO); Comrade Olaogun Victor, National P.R.O Comrade (Federal Poly, Offa); Olusina Oyebisi, Director Travels and Exchange (FUT, Minna); Comrade Kalib Abubakar, Director of Sports (Kano State University); Comrade Alaofin Blessing, Ex-Officio1 Comrade (Kogi State University) Others include: Onukaogu Donald, Senate President (FUT, Owerri); Comrade Shima John, Deputy Senate President (BSU, Makurdi); Com.

    Daniel Munir Momodu, Secretary General (OAU, Ile-Ife); and Com. Ali Abdullahi Mohammed, Assistant Secretary General (Kano State Polytechnic).

    Shortly after that, Engr. Jide Adeniji, the first patron of NANS since 2005 was decorated with the Grand Patronship title. Engr. Adeniji has won several awards which include but not limited to: ICON of Leadership Award for the recognition of his leadership quality in 2005; One of the 50 Outstanding University of Ife

    Alumni by the GUARDIAN Newspapers (2009) and his was made the Grand Patron of Niger Delta Students Association in 2009.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was also given ‘Life Membership’ of the association, a honour the governor described as instrumental to the development of NANS.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha has, however, promised never to neglect them and also assured NANS that he would embark on some of the campus tours with the leaders of the association. In his appreciation speech, the Governor also promised to send some of the NANS leaders to China to learn how things are done rightly and progressively by the youths. He maintained that NANS is a very instrumental association to the development of Nigeria because it controls the minds of the heart of the nation, that si the youths.

    Past Presidents of NANS also graced the occasion and the legitimacy of Com. Yinka Gbadebo was perfectly and boldly declared against the activities of two presidential candidates who lost woefully at the poll during the NANS Convention last December where Com. Gbadebo was declared the absolute winner.

  • NANS seeks revolution in education sector

    NANS seeks revolution in education sector

    The newly elected National President, National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS), Mr. Yinka Gbadebo, on Wednesday decried the rot in the education sector of the country.

    Gbadebo, who observed this in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria) in Lagos, added that the sector needed a `serious revolution` to correct all abnormalities.

    “There is an urgent need for a declaration of an emergency in the education sector, — so as to revamp it and have qualitative education, “ he said.

    He lamented that both federal and state governments have not been giving the sector enough attention over the years.

    The NANS president said the governments had been depriving higher institutions of funds, thereby causing dearth of lecturers.

    “Qualified manpower to administer our educational institutions have left the country due to poor remuneration and inadequate research funds, “ he said.

    Gbadebo, however, called on all stakeholders, including Vice-Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts, to rally round government to revamp the sector.

     

  • Merger: NANS appeals to Amosun

    Merger: NANS appeals to Amosun

    The president-elect of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Yinka Gbadebo, has appealed to the government of Ogun State to reconsider its earlier decision to merge the state-owned Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) and Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

    Gbadebo made this known in a statement last week at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. He said the new leadership of NANS was compelled to make a plea as part of its commitment to the struggle for quantitative and qualitative education in Nigeria.

    He said the national leadership of the students’ body believed that the first step towards the resolution of any crisis should be dialogue, appealing to Governor Ibikunle Amosun to reconsider the decision to scrap TASUED.

    His words: “From the available statistics, Ogun State produces about 55,000 pupils at the secondary school level, which naturally cannot be effectively admitted by the available tertiary institutions in the state, hence the need to establish more tertiary institutions and the need to strengthen the existing ones.”

    “The institution in question, according to the NUC, ranks as one of the best universities in Nigeria. Tai Solarin University of Education is also the only university that specialises in the training of professional teachers in Nigeria.”

    He said the dissolution of the “great university of qualitative education delivery” in Nigeria may deal a great blow and entrench a loophole in the admission opportunity for the young school leavers in the state.

    “We recommended that a great future development facility and asset like TASUED can be the future security of an average Ogun State student for qualitative education at university level. With due respect to the office of the governor, we believe the committee’s recommendation to merge the school with OOU will not do the state any good,” he stated.

  • NANS pleads against scrapping of TASUED

    NANS pleads against scrapping of TASUED

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun to reconsider the scraping of the Tai Solarin University Of Education (TASUED), Ijebu Ode.

    The call was made in an open letter to the governor titled: PROPOSED DISSOLUTION OF TAI SOLARIN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION: APEAL FOR RECONSIDERATION signed by the association’s National President, Comrade Yinka Gbadebo .

    The association said that it was compelled to write the governor as part of its commitment to the struggle for quantitative and qualitative education in Nigeria.

    “We have followed with keen interest, the resent impasse surrounding the continuous existence of the Tai Solarin University of Education, vis-à-vis the implications for our students on that campus and the dire need for educational progression and the advancement”.

    The students also urged the governor to consider better and adequate funding of TASUED which according they noted is the only University that specializes in the training of professional educators in the country.

    They condemned the move to by the governor to scrap TASUED when the nation is in dire need of more Universities which is necessary for economic growth and development.

    “Sir, we strongly hope that our request for the continuous sustainability of TASUED will be granted without any unnecessary delay that may result into further actions from the NANS leadership. “

    The students implored the governor to personally visit the institution for an appraisal instead of basing his decision on reports he got about the school.

     

     

  • NANS marks International Students’ Day

    NANS marks International Students’ Day

    The Kwara State axis of the Joint Campus Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has held a rally and public lecture to mark this year’s International Students’ Day. The lecture was the maiden edition in the state.

    The day was first marked in 1941 in London by the International Students Council. Since then, the tradition has been sustained by International Union of Students.

    The public lecture took place at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) secretariat in Ilorin and had in attendance various speakers who spoke on diverse national issues. One of the guest lecturers and the Dean, Students’ Affairs, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof Olubunmi Omotesho, spoke on The role of higher education in national development.

    Omotesho, who was represented by Mr Alex Akanmu, disagreed with the popular belief that the standard of education in Nigeria was falling. He said education had improved and expanded over the years.

    “The only difference between Nigeria’s education of yesteryears and that of today is the expansion we are experiencing in terms of students’ population, manpower and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Standard of Nigeria higher education is better, what we need to do is to increase and improve on our capacity to accommodate the expansion and challenges we are facing,” the DSA noted.

    While urging the public to stop condemning the education system in Nigeria, Omotesho advocated for the adoption of indigenous languages in teaching at various levels of education in the country. He said:

    “Our education system will be better off if our local languages are celebrated and adopted in teaching students at schools, we should not rely wholly on foreign language.”

    The don disclosed that Nigeria’s education system, which many condemned, had produced great personalities, who had contributed to national development.

    In his speech, General Manager of Kwara State Broadcasting Commission, Alhaji Abdullateef Adedeji, advised the students to shun social vices and behaviours that could tarnish the image of the country.

    He maintained that the youths had a crucial role to play in nation building, while challenging them to show commitment and always engage in positive and productive activities that could bring about national development.

    Adedeji, however, charged the government to formulate policies that would engage the youths in nation building, thereby securing a better future for the country.

    Other personalities, who spoke at the event, included the chairman of Kwara State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Barrister Rafiu Balogun, Kwara State commander of National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Segun Oke, founder of MAD Positive Initiative, Miss Naomi Ikhureigbe, and founder of Youth Rescue Foundation (YRF), Mrs. Bimpe Adeniyi.

    After the public lecture, the students walked to the family house of the Sarakis to commiserate with the former governor of the state, Senator Bukola Saraki, over the death of his father, Dr Olusola Saraki. They were addressed by the senator and Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed and other top government officials of the state.