By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Zone F, Wednesday, commended President Bola Tinubu over appointment of Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu as minister of State for Foreign Affairs, describing it as a step in right direction.
The zonal leaders of the students Union, at a press conference after a meeting held in Awka, Anambra State capital, said they were optimistic that Bianca would bring in her wealth of knowledge, experience and capacities towards repositioning the ministry for overall good of students and other Nigerians.
The Southeast Coordinator, NANS Zone F, Comrade Charles Obinna Ijeọmah, while reading the statement, also commended the President over the appointment of Hon. Tunji Alaussa as new Minister of Education, assuring that they were ready to work with him for the overall welfare of students.
"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.
NANS also hailed the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State for following due process in appointing a substantive Rector for the Polytechnic and urged every dissenting voice to sheath their swords and support the new boss to move the institution forward.
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.
The NANS zonal boss, however, commended the president for initiating several programmes including students loans aimed at improving the living conditions of the students and appealed to students schooling at tertiary institutions in Abịa, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo to utilise the loans for academic advancements.
"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.
They also urged the federal government to appoint a substantive Rector for the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, by ensuring that the best person emerged out of the transparent election processes organised by Engr. Barnabas Germade led Polytechnic Council, is declared to lead the institution to a promised land.