By Okechukwu Okechukwu
The Southeast Zonal of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Wednesday, called on students from the geopolitical zone to enroll for students loans approved by the federal government.
According to leaders of the students from across universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Abịa, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States, the federal government initiative was good and capable of addressing issues of dropouts and challenges facing students.
The group also noted that the programme would help to improve the living standards of students by enabling them to improve in their research and other academic activities, while exploring employment opportunities and careers enhancement even after the academic endeavours.
The Southeast Coordinator, NANS Zone F, Comrade Charles Obinna Ijeọmah, while reading the statement on behalf of others, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating the programme and others to improve the students welfare, adding that it was an indication that he has the interest of students at heart.
He said that NANS were also excited over the appointment of Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu as new State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Hon. Tunji Alaussa as new Minister of Education, assuring that they were ready to work with them as they have capacity to support the federal government to turnaround the country.
The students further hailed Engr. Barnabas Gemade led Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State for following a transparent process in election of a substantive Rector for the institution, which according to them, was based on merit and if allowed to stand would help to produce a Rector that would take the institution to a greater height.
They, therefore, added that following the path of honour by screening and chosen the right candidate out of 18 that applied for the topmost position worth celebrating, and implored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to listen to the detractors who go about writing fictitious petitions against the process.
According to them, Tinubu Government should go ahead and approve the best candidate for the job as recommended by Gemade led Governing Council.
"We also want to call the attention of the President on the terrible state of roads in the Southeast, which is posing serious threat to our students as several accidents and robberies have been recorded and we plead for the urgent intervention of the federal government to put them in order," he stated.
The body also extolled the Southeast governors, especially Professor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, Dr Alex Otti of Abia State, Senator Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Mr. Peter Mbah of Enugu State for providing enabling environment and fatherly love for education to thrive in the zone.
Ijeomah and the NANS National Director, Comrade Ernest Okafor, further called on Southeast governors to provide palliatives to students, as well as overhaul the NANS transportation system by reducing the taxation on their drivers so as to enable them reduce the students cost of transportation.
"We also appeal to the Southeast governors to totally overhaul the NANS transportation scheme across the various campuses in the zone to make transportation easy and affordable for the students and for security reasons," they stated.
"We love the kind gestures of the federal government like approval of the students loans to combat number of students drop out of school or facing challenges in paying school fees. He also approved CNG buses for NANS students across the federation. We are happy for that.
"We commended the National President of NANS, Lucky Omoneye for his efforts in repositioning NANS to lead students Union that will always protect the interests of the students. We also appreciate the Senate President of NANS, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez for using his office to push for the overall welfare of Nigerian students.
I won't forget to salute the capacity SSA to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on students engagement, Sunday Asheton for always been here for us," he noted.
Others, including the Southeast Vice President, National Association of Nigeria Colleges of Education Students (NANCES),
Comrade Christian Chukwuecherem Obi, National Vice President; and Vice President, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Comrade Chukwuebuka Umezuluorah; also declared support to the federal government efforts to reposition education system in the country.