By Ovat Abeng
Anambra state students under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South East zone, have declared their intention to contribute money to purchase the “Expression Of Interest Form” for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to contest for a second term in office in 2027.
They also said that they were ready to mobilise over 20,000 youths and students for his second term endorsement rally, adding that President Tinubu has proved within the last three years to be genuine a progressive worthy of their support.
Led by their Coordinator, Okoye Mathew Okpala, the students converged during a meeting at the ETF hall of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, (COOU) Igbariam campus, Anambra State, on Saturday to deliberate on the Theme: “Discovering Purpose and Working in Ordination 2026.″
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According to Okpala, their primary interest had been and would remain the welfare, advancement and protection of students’ interests above any other consideration.
To them, leadership he said, is about policies that directly impact the lives of the people, a reason he stressed the students were in clear and unwavering support of President Tinubu’s Second term in the 2027 general elections.
Under Tinubu’s leadership, Nigerian students he said had witnessed a historic intervention in the education sector through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
The approval of the zero-interest students’ loan scheme policy he noted has become a lifeline for over 983,706 Nigerian students who had already benefited with more than N183 billion disbursed so far. “This is not a promise for tomorrow; it is a reality happening today.”
“For years, many brilliant young Nigerians were forced to abandon their dreams, not because they lacked intelligence, but because they lacked financial support.
“Some deferred admissions. Some dropped out. Some never returned to school. The zero-interest loan scheme restores dignity, opportunity, and hope to thousands of families across this nation.That is inclusive leadership”, he said.
He stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated that students are not an afterthought in governance and by investing in education financing and working towards economic stabilization, had shown he understands that the future of Nigeria lies in the classrooms, laboratories, and lecture halls of today. “On the other hand, we have heard statements from Peter Obi suggesting that the students’ loan scheme would be halted if he is elected. As someone whose responsibility is to defend students’ interests, I must ask: what happens to the hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries? What happens to the students who are relying on this support to complete their degrees?
“What happens to those who finally found hope after years of financial hardship?.”
“If we truly care about students, we must protect policies that expand access to education not dismantle them. Even beyond politics, compassion demands that we acknowledge the painful history of students who were unable to further their education due to school fees and upkeep challenges”, he said.
Comrade Okoye, however noted that the students support for Tinubu was not based on sentiment, but on measurable impact, adding that as students they will always stand with policies that keep them in school, reduce financial burden, and secure their academic future.
For these reasons, he said the students from the zone proudly support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the next election, because leadership must be measured by what it does for the people, especially for the youth who embody the future of the nation.
The students he emphasized must continue to choose progress, opportunity, and inclusive leadership above any other consideration.
