NANS, under my leadership, is ready to be the genuine voice of the Student- President
The just elected NANS president, Umar Lawal, has recently pledged to make Nigerian students issues his priorities.
While speaking at a press conference after his victory he conveyed a genuine interest in the ongoing ASUU strike.
Lawal announced that his leadership would not hesitate to engage both the federal government through the Minister of Education and the leadership of ASUU with a notion to end the prolonged strike.
According to a Vanguard report, Lawal said that NANS would no longer indulge in partisan politics just as he said the new NANS under his watch would collaborate with security agencies to brainstorm and proffer workable templates for the security of lives and properties in our beloved nation.
Speaking further, he thanked all Nigerian students who supported him during the period of his aspirations, vowing never to let Nigerian students down.
"I want to use this privilege to appreciate all the Nigerian students that supported me during the past week, and also for deeming it fit to stay in Abuja to make sure that they elect a new leadership under my watch.
Indeed, I appreciate all the Nigerian students, leaders and my convention leaders here that passed through these processes to elect me as NANS president.
"It’s a new dawn for NANS as students will go back to campus. We will not allow anybody to sell our organization for anything.
"I urge all Nigerian students to have hope in this new leadership; that very soon we will meet with the leadership of ASUU and the federal government to see that Nigerian students go back to their campuses.
"The Minister of Education, we are by this informing you that NANS has a new leadership and that very soon we will come for a meeting with you and the leadership of ASUU, so that students go back to schools, "he said.
He further expressed gratitude to God and stakeholders for his success despite all the obstacles against his victory.
"Although there were some destructive elements that tried to shortchange the general will of Nigerian students during the process of the just concluded convention, they created oppression and tried to buy the students’ mandate. They orchestrated different plans that were inimical to the existence of our organization, but with the support of genuine students and NANS Senators, light conquered the darkness. Our victory is blossoming, and it comes with great glory.
NANS, under my leadership, is ready to be the genuine voice of the students in this negotiation as we demand an immediate end to the prolonged industrial actions. Failure to have resolution within the shortest period available will be faced with decisive action from Nigerian Students. " He said.
Others reportedly elected include: Akinteye Babatunde, Deputy Senate President; Ekundina Elvis, Vice President (National Affairs); Saad Baki, Clerk; Suleiman Sarki, VP (Special Duties); Usman Kankia, Secretary General; Giwa Temitope, Public Relations Officer; Chinyelu Okolie, Treasurer; and Vanessa Egbeahie, Vice President (Inter-campus Affairs).