"The greatest legacy anyone can leave behind is a lifetime of service that uplifts humanity and inspires generations."
PROTOCOL
The Chief Host, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa;
The Grand Patron of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, Executive Governor of Bayelsa State;
His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, CON, Executive Governor of Kaduna State;
His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Executive Governor of Edo State;
The Father of the Day, His Excellency, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, Honourable Minister of State for Defence;
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa;
The Life Patron of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), His Excellency, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar;
The Special Guest of Honour, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo;
The Co-Chairman of the Occasion, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande;
The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari;
The Chairman of the Occasion, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Mukhtar Betara, OON, Chairman, House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory;
The Special Guest, Comrade Sunday Asefon, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students' Engagement;
The Keynote Speaker, Professor Temi Ologunorisha, Vice-Chancellor, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology;
The Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, OFR, mni;
The Chairman, House Committee on Student Loans, Scholarships, Higher Education Financing and Multilateral Relations, Hon. Ifeoluwa Ehindero;
The Managing Director, Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr;
The Director General, Nigerian Television Authority, Comrade Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos;
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, Mr. Bamanga Usman Jada;
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni;
Heads of Government Agencies and Parastatals;
Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, and Heads of Tertiary Institutions;
Captains of Industry, Development Partners, and Friends of the Nigerian Students' Movement;
Past Presidents and Former Leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students;
Members of the National Executive Council, Principal Officers of the National Senate, Distinguished Senators, Zonal Coordinators, Joint Campus Council Chairmen, Students' Union Government Presidents, Student Leaders, and Fellow Nigerian Students;
Members of the Press;
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
I stand before you today with utmost humility, great pride, and a high sense of responsibility, not just as your President but also as your Chief Servant. I am deeply honored to assume the sacred mandate you have given me: to serve you, not to rule over you; to represent you; to speak for you; to advocate for your welfare; and to advance our collective will.
My love for this Association, the apex and umbrella body representing and unifying over 40.1 million Nigerian students both within Nigeria and in the diaspora, the largest students' movement and youth organization not only in Nigeria but also in Africa, and the largest Black students' movement in the world, is abiding. My confidence in the untapped potential of Nigerian students is unyielding, and I have no doubt that we will harness this potential for the greater good of our nation and the world at large.
To Almighty God be all the glory for making this day possible and for bringing this dream into reality. Without the One who gives and takes life, the vision of the Epoch Movement would not have been brought to life.
Moving forward, it is pertinent to note that no one attains greatness alone, and to forget those who stood by you is the height of ingratitude. Even as we are engrossed in the euphoria of this moment, gratitude must never be forgotten.
My sincere appreciation goes to Nigerian students, both at home and in the diaspora, who own this mandate, which I now represent. Thank you for your invaluable support and for believing in my Epoch Agenda to advance our collective will.
Similarly, I pour out my gratitude to our Senators, the SUG Presidents, who constitute the duly recognized electorate, for the overwhelming votes at the polls. I simply cannot thank you enough for trusting me and ultimately entrusting me with this mandate. In return, I promise never to betray the trust you have reposed in me through the ballot.
Going forward, I refuse to be counted among those who enjoy the harvest yet forget those who planted the seeds. To my team, the Epoch Movement Team, who traveled the length and breadth of this country with me, and to my proactive media team, who ensured the timely and up-to-date dissemination of our events, manifesto, and movement throughout the course of this campaign, words will never be enough to encapsulate how much I cherish every one of you. I am immensely grateful.
Similarly, permit me to use this opportunity to appreciate our JCC structures across the federation and the zonal structures across the six geopolitical zones for their immeasurable support and firm belief in my aspiration.
I must also extend my appreciation to our stakeholders, leaders, and cadres for their support and advisory roles throughout the course of this contest. I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence reposed in me.
To everyone who supported this movement, donated campaign materials, made financial contributions, and endorsed my candidacy, I remain most grateful for your overwhelming support. I see all your sacrifices, your love, and your commitment. You can always trust me not to disappoint.
To my predecessor, Comr. Olushola Oladoja, GCNS, thank you for your service and for being a noble leader. You can trust me to build upon your achievements as we continue to move this organization forward, and I pray that posterity will be kind to you.
I owe a profound debt of gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose belief in me changed the course of my journey. He identified me when many overlooked me. He discerned greatness in me at a time when I was shrouded in relative obscurity. He saw potential yet unborn, believed in possibilities yet unseen, and, with uncommon magnanimity, extended his hand toward me at my weakest, most vulnerable, and uncertain phase of life. At a moment when destiny seemed distant, he became the divine catalyst that altered the trajectory of my life. Your confidence in me remains one of the greatest blessings of my journey, and I shall forever remain grateful.
My profound appreciation also goes to the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, whose support and steadfast commitment to my growth have been truly extraordinary. Your constant willingness to go above and beyond on my behalf, your unflinching belief in my capacity, and your relentless encouragement have remained invaluable pillars throughout my journey. Your confidence in my potential has inspired me to strive for greater heights, and I remain deeply grateful for your mentorship, guidance, and invaluable support.
I will be a sheer ingrate if I fail to acknowledge and appreciate the Life Patron of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), His Excellency Alhaji Abubakar Badaru, former Governor of Jigawa State and immediate past Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his immense support, invaluable contributions to the growth of the organization, and the overall advancement of Nigerian students. I make bold to state that he has been a pillar of immense strength, whose influence and goodwill have sustained the growth of the organization.
Great Nigerian Students, you will recall that you entrusted me with this mandate to represent you exactly 50 days ago. Ever since, I have remained committed to advancing your interests and our collective aspirations. With passion, dedication, and commitment, I have tirelessly strived to stay closer to you, listen to your concerns, and continue to speak on your behalf. I have also forged strategic partnerships, built collaborations, and initiated programmes that address your overall well-being.
So far, we have engaged the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Oyo State Government on the immediate rescue and safe return of the students and teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State. We also engaged the security agencies and physically visited the affected communities to sympathize with them and identify with their plight. To the glory of God, the pupils and teachers have now been rescued safely.
Furthermore, we secured the reinstatement of LAUTECH students who were suspended by the university. We also secured the reinstatement of the Students' Union Government (SUG) President of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), alongside other FUOYE students who were suspended. In total, we have secured the reinstatement of over 14 students who were unjustly suspended from their respective campuses.
Beyond the four walls of our higher institutions of learning, we addressed the prolonged stay of WASSCE candidates at examination centres across the country amid security concerns. We also constituted and inaugurated Standing Committees on TETFund, NDDC, NEDC, and ITF interventions, project assessment, verification, and monitoring to ensure that students, who are the primary beneficiaries of these government agencies, are not left behind. Similarly, we launched an online verification portal to compile the details of students who are yet to receive payment from the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) despite completing their Industrial Training Scheme, to ensure that they receive their entitlements.
Furthermore, we engaged the Ebonyi State Government on issues relating to students' welfare. On matters of national importance and unity, we organized a nationwide Democracy Day Walk to celebrate our democratic journey and reaffirm our unyielding commitment to democratic governance. We also engaged High Chief (Engr.) Kestin Ebimorbowie Pondi, Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, and secured local and international scholarships for students, employment opportunities for stakeholders, as well as mobility support. In addition, we have continued to raise our voice over the discrepancies in NELFUND disbursements. We have also continued to monitor and follow up on the implementation of the scheme to ensure that every eligible Nigerian student receives what is due to them. On the payment of upkeep allowances, we can assure Nigerian students that disbursements will commence this week. Equally, we have released a comprehensive list of defaulting institutions that have failed to refund students despite NELFUND intervention. Furthermore, there has been a total clampdown on institutions engaged in corrupt practices, particularly at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.
Fellow Nigerian Students, we rely heavily on telecommunications services for learning, research, virtual classrooms, innovation, entrepreneurship, and daily communication. For this reason, we met with the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in the past week to reaffirm our partnership and strengthen our collaboration, ensuring that students continue to enjoy seamless telecommunications services at student-friendly rates.
Today, as we stand at the threshold of a blessed era where vision, purpose, and greatness converge to redefine the future, I make bold to state, without mincing words, that we are just getting started. NANS must return to being the true voice of every Nigerian student, not just in words but in action. You deserve an association that is fearless in advocating for you, pragmatic and transparent in its actions, and consistent in delivering results. This is what I stand for and represent as your President. The vision is clear, and the mission is already in motion. We are rebuilding NANS into a structure that works for you, a voice that matters in decision-making and policy formulation, and a force that cannot be ignored.
Dear Nigerian Students, my resolve to lead you is not because the office of the President is coveted, nor for self-enrichment or self-gratification, but because my conscience compels me, and I see it as the right and honourable course to take.
Throughout my years of service in this organisation, I have witnessed the intellectual prowess of Nigerian students, your immense talent, innovative ideas, and unmatched versatility to excel across diverse fields.
Having answered the national call, and now shouldering the sacred responsibility of leading you, together, we shall create new models while consolidating the notable strides of our predecessors. This, undoubtedly, will provide Nigerian students with a platform to showcase their innate creativity, demonstrate their skills, and enable us to build and equip a generation astute enough to compete in an ever-expanding technological world.
The state of students' hostels across our tertiary institutions is pathetically disheartening. Many hostels are in a deplorable and dilapidated condition, and they continue to deteriorate with little or no attention from the relevant authorities. They are unbecoming of institutions of learning and unconducive to decent living, with many students forced to endure poor sanitation, inadequate facilities, and even exposure to wild animals and other environmental hazards. This is unacceptable. Consequently, I hereby declare a State of Emergency on Students' Hostels across tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The welfare, safety, and dignity of Nigerian students can no longer be compromised.
As we all know, we are in a general election year. As Nigerian students, and with NANS as our umbrella body, we constitute a large percentage of the nation's population and, as such, we are major stakeholders. We must be actively involved in determining who governs us. Therefore, the leadership of NANS will, when the time comes, give direction to Nigerian students on who to support and vote for in the forthcoming general elections. We will not be onlookers, that is why our JCC structures across the country are currently mobilising students to register for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
As I bring this address to a close, I call on every Nigerian student to join hands with this administration in building a stronger, united, and more purposeful NANS. The journey ahead will demand sacrifice, resilience, and unflinching commitment, but I have no doubt that together we shall overcome every challenge and achieve remarkable milestones. Let history remember this moment as the dawn of a new chapter, a chapter in which Nigerian students reclaimed their voice, restored the dignity of their Association, and redefined purposeful student leadership. The Epoch has begun, the mission is clear, and the future is ours to shape. Together, let us rise, let us lead, and let us build a NANS that generations yet unborn will be proud to inherit.
I thank you all.
Long live the National Association of Nigerian Students!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Aluta Continua! Victoria Ascerta!
Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, GCNS
President and Grand Commander of All Aluta Forces
National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
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