By Amaka Abayomi

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has disclosed plans to embark on student friendly programmes that would reposition the association and give new directions to Nigerian students.

Speaking to Vanguard Learning, the National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Comrade Clement Olusegun, said the focus of the present leadership of NANS is to reposition Nigerian students to enhance their academic performance so as to prepare them for future leadership positions.

“Our focus is to reposition Nigerian students, and to this end, we have embarked on well-intended programmes that will give them new directions. Such initiatives include vocational skill acquisition and training, educational summit, tertiary institutions competitions, among other laudable activities, would be implemented.

“Also, to give it a national feel, we have begun the process of taking the activities of NANS to various tertiary institutions nationwide to give students the opportunity to actively participate in the developmental and educational activities so as to dissuade them from engaging in social vices.”

Commenting on the leadership tussle between Dauda Mohammed and Adakole Ochai, Olusegun said the Bayelsa Convention that produced this current leadership was the fairest in the history of the association.

“Prior to the emergence of Mohammed from University of Jos as the constitutionally elected NANS President, there used to be four factions in NANS. The process that led to Mohammed’s victory was midwifed by the Minister of Education, the SSS and other security agencies.

“We went through a legitimate process for the emergence of the new NANS national executives by swearing to an affidavit attesting our studentship, and we signed that we would abide by the outcome of the process.

“Mohammed emerged winner with an over-whelming 89 votes. The second candidate had 45 votes while the distance third person, who had 36 votes, is the one going around claiming to be the President and, in the process, extorting unsuspecting members of the public.

“With this, the general public is, hereby informed to contact the National President, Dauda Mohammed, or the National Public Relations Officer, Clement Godwin Olusegun, on any issue concerning students’ welfare.”