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Tag: National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)

  • NANS mourns Arise TV anchor Maduagwu

    NANS mourns Arise TV anchor Maduagwu

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed profound grief over the tragic death of Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a talented journalist, reporter, and producer with Arise Television.

    In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, NANS described Somtochukwu as more than a media professional — a beacon of hope and role model to countless young Nigerians, especially students who admired her eloquence, courage, and dedication to truth and professionalism.

    Oladoja said the journalist’s sudden and painful passing has created a deep void, not only in the media industry but also in the hearts of Nigerian students nationwide.

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    He praised her brilliance, strong work ethic, and passion for nation-building through responsible journalism, noting that her contributions inspired many within and beyond the student community.

    “The loss of such a vibrant and promising young woman is indeed a national tragedy,” the statement read. “NANS joins her family, colleagues, and the entire Arise Television team in mourning her passing.”

    On behalf of the Nigerian student community, NANS extended heartfelt condolences to the management and staff of Arise Television, the family of the deceased, and the wider media fraternity.

    “We pray that God grants her soul eternal rest and gives her family, friends, and colleagues the strength to bear this painful loss. Somtochukwu may be gone, but her light will continue to shine through the impact she made and the lives she touched. May her soul rest in perfect peace,” Oladoja added.

  • NANS commends police for swift arrest of attackers of Ondo students

    NANS commends police for swift arrest of attackers of Ondo students

    …seeks prosecution of suspects

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council (JCC) Ondo Axis, has praised the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force for its prompt response in arresting those responsible for the recent violent attack on Nigerian students in Ogbese community, Ondo State.

    NANS acknowledged the swift intervention of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS), describing it as a commendable commitment to maintaining law and order, ensuring student safety, and upholding justice.

    In a statement, NANS Ondo JCC chairman, Comrade Oluwarotimi Joshua, lauded the proactive measures taken by security agencies in identifying and apprehending the perpetrators.

    According to him, the swift action reinforces the belief that no individual or group is above the law and that violence against Nigerian students will not be tolerated.

    He said, “However, while these arrests mark a significant step in the right direction, we emphasize that justice must not only be initiated but fully carried out.

    “The NANS JCC Ondo Axis remains resolute in ensuring that every attacker involved is held accountable to the full extent of the law. We reiterate that our seven-day ultimatum is still in effect, and we expect swift prosecution of the culprits. Arresting them is not enough—justice must be served transparently, ensuring that such incidents never reoccur.

    “We urge the Ondo State Government, the Commissioner of Police, and all relevant authorities to expedite legal proceedings and guarantee that these individuals face the full weight of the law. 

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    “Until our demands are fully met, our resolve remains unshaken. If, after the expiration of our ultimatum, justice is delayed or denied, we will have no option but to take lawful actions, including a mass protest, to assert our rights and demand accountability.

    “The safety and dignity of Nigerian students remain our top priority. This incident should serve as a strong message that any act of aggression against students will be met with firm resistance and consequences.

    “We appreciate all Nigerian students for their solidarity and patience as we navigate this critical moment. The leadership of NANS JCC Ondo Axis will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that justice prevails and that Nigerian students can move freely without fear of violence or intimidation.”

  • Xenophobic attacks: NANS rejects exchange programmes with S’ Africa

    The proposed exchange programme between Nigerian students and their South African counterparts may have ended before it kicks off.

    President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Comrade Daniel Akpan on Wednesday turned down the offer following the renewed attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in the late Nelson Mandela’s country.

    Akpan stated this while reacting to the proposal put forward by some Nigerian Youth groups: National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and Nigerian Youth Initiatives, who were on a fence- mending mission to the South African Mission in Nigeria.

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    He noted that every effort to ensure peaceful dialogue has been exhausted.

    According to him:  “We don’t need any exchange with South Africa. How can you do exchange programme with a country you are not safe?”

    He said with the efforts put in so far by Nigeria to mitigate the killings in South Africa without success, the avenue for further fruitful engage has been exhausted.

     “How long are we going to dialogue with a country with culture of hate?

    “We have been on the same issue of xenophobic attacks for reasonable length of time.

    “Different stakeholders have held press conferences to call the attention of the world to the evil being perpetuated against Nigerians in South Africa.

    “The second phase of our protest was picketing. We occupied the premises of South African own businesses and sat down, demanding a stoppage to the ceaseless xenophobic attacks.

    “We have exhausted all the channels to peaceful dialogue. As if killing was not enough, the next thing we witnessed was the burning of the premises of Nigeria own businesses. These people they are killing have flesh and blood,” Akpan said.

    He insisted that Nigeria has exhausted all avenues for peaceful dialogue towards solving the intractable xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

    Responding, the factional president of National Youth Council of

    Nigeria, NYCN, Bello Shagari said, attacking South African owned businesses in Nigeria was not the solution to the problems.

    He argued doing so will deny many Nigerians, who work in those establishments their means of livelihood.

  • NANS pickets South African businesses in Yola over xenophobic attacks

    THE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has shut down the Yola branch offices of DSTV and Stanbic Bank over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

    The students, who started the picketing yesterday, said the exercise would be extended to MTN offices today.

    Early in the morning, the students first visited the DSTv office on Bank Road and then matched over to the Aliyu Mustapha Way, where Stanbic Bank is located.

    All through the protest match, the students held placards with various inscriptions, namely: “NANS  say no to xenophobia”, “Why kill our citizens and loot their properties?”, “Enough of spiral silence”, “Nigerian students can no longer keep quiet while South Africans kill Nigerians”, among others.

    At the Stanbic Bank branch, the students addressed the management through the NAN National Financial Secretary, Danladi Jonah, who said the bank branch would remain shut throughout yesterday and today as directed by NANS’ national leadership.

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    “We are giving South African businesses in Nigeria seven days to relocate,” he said, adding that NANS would decide the next plan of action after the ultimatum.

    The bank’s Zonal Operations Manager, Abubakar Usman, who addressed the students, assured that he would communicate their grievance to the bank’s headquarters.

    In an interview, the NANS National Financial Secretary explained that the protest and picketing of South African firms was part of a phased nationwide action by NANS to condemn killings of Nigerians by South Africans.

  • Xenophobia: NANS threatens to shut down South African Embassy, businesses

    THE leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Thursday threatened to shut down the South African Embassy in Nigeria.

    The students’ body also threatened to close down DSTV and MTN, among other business operated by South Africans in Nigeria.

    The is coming on the heels of xenophobic killings of Nigerians in South Africa.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja, NANS President Danielson Akpan condemned the recent killing of Mrs Elizabeth Ndubuisi in her hotel room in South Africa while attending a seminar.

    The late Mrs Ndubuisi, who was said to be the Deputy Director General of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), was found dead in her room at Emperor’s Palace Casino, Hotel and Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Akpan threatened to mobilise the over 40 million Nigerian students to shut down South African businesses in Nigeria to protest the incessant killings of Nigerians in the country.

    He said: “The rascality of South Africans has got to an alarming state. As at today, official record of Nigerians killed in South Africa has risen to 127.

    “These are human beings, these are Nigerians. Unfortunately, this figure is just the confirmed and official figure, not to talk about the ones swept under the carpet.

    “On June 23, Mrs Elizabeth Ndubuisi was strangulated in her hotel room (Emperor’s Palace Hotel & Convention Centre) in Johannesburg, South Africa. She’s the Deputy Director General of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN).

    Read Also: Xenophobia: Two Nigerians stabbed to death in South Africa

    “Consequently, we shall be shutting down all South African reflections in Nigeria: Embassy, DSTV, SHOPRITE, MTN and many more.

    “Since South Africans do not want us in their country, they should leave our land.”

    The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had assured the nation that everything would be done to unravel the death of the late Mrs Ndubuisi.

    Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, in a tweet on July 7, said no cover-up would be allowed by Nigeria.

    She had tweeted: “Everything will be done to unravel the death of such a great woman. Our mission in Johannesburg will ensure that. We will not relent. I’m demanding this.

    “No cover-up will be allowed. I have faith in our mission in Jo’burg. Investigations will be thorough. It’s a painful period. We must ensure matter unravelled.

  • NANS protests arrest, detention of students, lecturer

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Tuesday marched on the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, to protest the arrest, detention and arraignment of their colleagues.

    Six students of Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State, and a lecturer, were arrested and detained in February for an alleged opinion they posted on Facebook. The post was about poor management in the institution.

    The protesting students gave the university one week to withdraw its case against the students or they would mobilise nationwide and shut the university.

    The protesters were led by the Vice President, National Affairs, Chidi Ilozobe.

    NANS described Madonna University’s action as anti-democratic and primitive.

    Ilozobe said: “We came to register our dissatisfaction on how the management of Madonna University is treating our members. Sometime in February, we got information that the police, following a petition by the school management, arrested some students.

    Read Also: ‘NANS lied on meeting with Akeredolu’

    “According to them, these students were criminals, cultists and fraudsters; but we know that our members are not kidnappers, fraudsters or cultists. We decided to investigate the matter and understand that the petition was written to get the accused out of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp and their parents’ houses.

    “A further investigation revealed that the school management was acting because the students wrote against them on the social media. One of them wrote that “Good lecturers are scarce. Madonna University Administration should be nice to our lecturers or a good number of them will resign”.

    “Is this an offence against the school? We are not in a tyrannical or dictatorship rule, and we are not practicing totalitarian system where the masses have no voice. Students are intellectuals and are allowed to speak whenever they feel things are not going well, most especially on our campuses.

    “We are here to tell the Inspector-General of Police that they were told lies. Our students are not criminals or kidnappers; they just wrote on Facebook and Whatsapp. We have freedom of Expression.

    “The Madonna Umanagement may think it has money to hire senior lawyers or intimidate students, but we want to tell them that it is a lie. If a wrong judgment is passed at the Federal High Court, and they go to jail, we will shot down Madonna.

    “We will make sure the school’s license is revoked. We will make sure that the Joint National Assembly Committee on Education, the National Human Rights Commission, National Universities Commission (NUC) revoke the license.

    “We gathered that they have been granted bail but not released. What we are saying is that they should be given unconditional bail. We are issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the management of Madonna University; if this case is not withdrawn within seven days, we will mobilise students from all over the country; we will relocate from our houses with mattresses, cooking stoves, gas and pots to the school gate to shut the university. This is not a threat, it is a promise.”

    The six students detained appeared in court yesterday for further hearing on their release but were taken back to Amawbia prisons because the court did not sit due to the absence of Justice Babatunde Quadri.

    The matter was adjourned till July 2 for further hearing.

  • NANS congratulates Buhari, Tinubu on victory

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Lagos state chapter has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and National Leader of the All Progressives Party (APC) for the resounding success at last Saturday’s presidential election.

    It said Buhari’s victory was more than deserving praising Tinubu for his strategic efforts in the re-election bid.

    Chairman of the association, Comrade Busari AbdulQowiyy, in a statement, wished the President “success and strength in continuing to perform the important duties of his position.”

    He added: “The trust placed in you (President Buhari) by students will undoubtedly be a source of great inspiration to continue the good work started in building up the well-being and unity of our country and its people and maintaining the security of our nation.”

    Read Also: Tinubu to constituents: thank you

    He expressed optimism the cordial relationship between Tinubu and Buhari would keep the state as an ally of the federal government.

    “I am deeply confident that under the leadership of our mentor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos state will remain close allies deeply committed to protecting the interest of your administration and working together for the success of the country at large,” he said.

    The NANS chairman also congratulated the former Lagos state governor for engineering a second term victory for the incumbent government.

    He urged students to troop out next weekend to vote Babajide SanwoOlu, the gubernatorial candidate of the APC.

  • NANS canvasses Abians, students to re-elect Gov. Ikpeazu Okezie

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) wish to commend the Governor of Abia State -Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on his giant achievements as the chief driver of Abia development in the last 4 years or thereabout.
    There’s no gainsaying the fact that the Ikpeazu administration has touched positively on key sectors of the state from economy to education, enterprenuerialship to infrastructure, youth empowerment to exportation of goods and services.
    As the National Patron of our noble association- NANS, we are proud to identify with His Excellency’s impact filled leadership and call on students and Abians in general to reward his selflessness and sacrifices throughout his first tenure with another four year term.
    The governor has within the period under review turned Aba to the headquarter of SME, encouraging local producers of goods and services, infrastructural development, good educational policies, support for students and youth development.
    We are specifically asking Abia students and youths to come out enmass and ensure the re-election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
    Many might ask what our interest in Abia is. Our singular interest is to promote the  candidature of Governor Ikpeazu regardless of his political leanings, he has shown considerable commitment to the revitalization of the education sector, identifies with the students and empowers the youths. Governor Ikpeazu no doubt is an exceptional leader whose love for and service to his people and adherence to the above mentioned expectations remained unquestionable.
    Going forward, we believe that his re-election will engender massive development of Abia State and further improve the living conditions of her industrious people. We also have strong assurances that a greater attention will be paid to the education sector in his second coming hence our decision to throw our support behind his re-election having fulfilled his promises to the students constituency in this out-going tenure.
    Abians should not be in a haste to change the winning team as led by this illustrious Okezie Ikpeazu.
    We urge all students of voting age to come out and patriotically exercise their franchise on March 9, 2018.
    We caution that students should desist from being used or dragged into subverting the electoral choice of the people and refrain from acts capable of either causing violence or spreading hate against the re-election of the popular Governor Ikpeazu.
    Finally, let it be known to the few infidels that no amount of lies peddled by mischief makers or orchestrated propaganda against the Ikpeazu administration can make us abandon a man whose level of friendship and simplicity has become a parameter for judging leadership stability, mental capacity and responsiveness of Governor Ikpeazu.
    We wish Governor Ikpeazu and the good people of Abia State a resounding victory on Saturday March 9, 2019.

  • NANS seeks immediate intervention in ASUU strike

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is seeking the immediate intervention of the federal government towards returning students back to the lecture rooms.
    The students have decried the incessant strike in the education sector stating the need for a declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector.
    The NANS Zone A Coordinator, Umar Faruk Lawal made this declaration during a peaceful protest in Minna tagged ‘Save Education Rally’.
    According to Lawal, the students are not happy with the federal government especially with the way the government has been handling the education sector with levity.
    He urged government to meet the demands of the Unions in the tertiary institutions or negotiate with them to come to an agreement.
    “We are not happy with the federal government, all our institutions are shut down, we are not happy with the way things are going in the education system. Nigeria students should be called back to the classrooms.
    “We are not happy that all our institutions are shut down by ASUU, COEASU and NASU. Federal government should look into the sector and do something about it. The students are not happy sitting down at home. “

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    The protest which started from Tunga ended at the city gate and had students bearing various placards reading, “FG should meet up their agreement with COEASU”, “Nigerian students are tired of unstable education”, “Save education save the future”, “stop mortgaging our future”, “Education is the future we have”, “No nation can survive without good education”.
    The students also went to the the State House of Assembly and the Secretariat to meet with the Legislators and the Comissioner of Education but none was on ground to address them.

  • NANS mourns eleven UNIMAID students

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Friday expressed sadness over the death of
    eleven students of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in an auto accident on Tuesday.

    A total of 11 students of UNIMAID died in the accident on Nov. 20 on their way to Damaturu from Maiduguri following the ASUU strike.

    The National Public Relations Officer of NANS, Mr Best Okereafor, gave the condolence in a statement issued in Enugu on Friday.

    He stated that “NANS mourns the fallen Nigerian students and in same vain attribute the demise to the ongoing Academic Staff Unions of Universities (ASUU) strike.

    “NANS believes that if the strike was not ongoing; the students would have been in school, studying.

    “NANS is calling on the Federal Government to save our future and consider the souls of these fallen innocent Nigerian students often told that they are the leaders of tomorrow. Can we lead in grave?

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    “In as much as we believe in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, NANS is on this sad note, calling on Federal Government to make students happy by meeting the demands of the striking ASUU and Colleges of Education lecturers without further delay.”

    According to him, ASUU should not politicise the industrial action but consider the lives of Nigerian students by shifting grounds.

    “We appreciate the ASUU agitations as some are students oriented and we are part of the struggle as we are most affected as well.”