By Ukpa Ewa
The President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Olushola Oladoja, has commenced a nationwide campus tour in Anambra State, beginning with a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Dr. Ossy Onuko.
The tour, which will cover South Eastern states including Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia aims to reconnect NANS with students at the grassroots level.
Speaking during the visit in Awka, Comrade Oladoja said that Anambra was deliberately chosen as the starting point of the tour in recognition of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s youth focused policies. He noted that his leadership is committed to taking NANS back to campuses to engage directly with students and assess their learning and living conditions.
“This visit aligns with our promise to take NANS back to the grassroots. We are here to interact with students, inspect their hostels and classrooms and ensure that federal interventions like TETFund were properly implemented. The funds released by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are meant to revive abandoned projects not to start new ones and we must ensure that directive is respected,” Oladoja said.
The NANS President also commended Governor Soludo’s administration for prioritizing education, citing the recent approval of bursary scheme for students and sustained investment in infrastructure across all levels of education in the state. As a gesture of appreciation, he announced that NANS would confer the title of Life Patron of Nigerian Students on the Governor.
Responding, the Managing Director of ACTDA, Dr. Ossy Onuko, applauded the NANS President for choosing Anambra to commence the tour, describing it as a demonstration of gratitude and accountability. He praised Comrade Oladoja’s proactive leadership style, describing him as a student leader who walks the talk.
“You have proven that you are not an armchair president. Coming from Abuja to assess students welfare firsthand shows genuine concern and integrity. This is the kind of leadership Governor Soludo admires, one that brings value,” Dr. Onuko said.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to educational development, saying that over N6.5 billion has been released as counterpart funding to upgrade schools to global standards. He also assured the students that the launch of the bursary scheme was at an advanced stage.
Dr. Onuko urged student leaders to actively contribute to national development and not allow themselves to be used as political tools. “Young people should be present where decisions are made. The Soludo administration sees students as partners,” he added.
In a vote of thanks, NANS Director of Innovation and Strategy, Comrade Salaudeen Lukman, described the visit as refreshing and inspiring. He expressed admiration for the peace and development in Anambra State, noting the absence of the usual “sit-at-home” disruptions on Monday. He also commended Dr. Onuko for being accessible to young people, describing him as a reliable voice for young people in governance.
Ukpa is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
