By FESTUS AHON
Comrade Chris Onodjacha  is the National President of the National Association of Nigerian  Students (NANS). He was president of the Student Union Government (SUG), Delta State University, Abraka.

Comrade Chris Onodjacha

In this interview, Onodjacha, a graduate of economics education, presently doing a master’s degree in energy and petroleum economics in the Delta State University, speaks  on  the activities of NANS and education in Nigeria.

EXCERPTS:

There  were newspaper publications where some persons claimed to be the president of National Association of Nigerian  Students (NANS). What will you say is the problem?

There are some persons claiming that NANS is factionalised but there is nothing like factionalisation  as much as I know because in the election where I emerged as the national president of  NANS, there were other contestants who  lost  to me. At the time of the election, I knew what the Nigerian student needed; so I came out with a pragmatic programme, which I unfolded.

During my campaign, I visited all the universities across the country to tell them  my programme  if  voted in and,  on the day of  election, I had an overwhelming vote and that brought me  as the first person  from Delta State as the NANS president since the formation of the students body  in 1940 in Abeokuta Grammar School by Rev. I. O. Ransome -Kuti.

I want to say that those claiming this or that were sponsored by persons who believe that if those they sponsored had won,  they would have been used for their political gains but they do not understand that Nigerian students have integrity they have always maintained and which they will continue to maintain.

As NANS president, what will you count as your achievements?

Though my tenure is still running, I must tell you that I have made some remarkable achievements. One  of the natural and basic amenities of life is water, and when we saw that a sachet of pure water is sold at N10 in the university environment, what we did was to raise a memorandum of understanding with the companies that produce sachet  water  to ensure they deliver to retailers at  N5 and that we have begun in all the universities across the country.

Second, we have been able to ensure electricity is provided in the university environment and also to look at the deplorable state of our schools and the dilapidated structures, whether hostels or the classrooms  to make sure the university community is conducive for learning.

Another area we took government on was road because we came to understand that in the university environment,  there should be good road network and we took the issue up with government and, as we are talking here now, government has promised to look into that area.

On  cultism, we have been moving around the universities  preaching against all anti-social vices and the need to shun violence and cultism.

What would you recall as your most challenging period since you assume office?

The most difficult time was during my arrest, last June 23, when we staged a protest agitating for some basic amenities on campus. NANS  constitution states that the state where the president comes from automatically is the headquarters of student unionism in the country, so since the NANS president is from Delta State, the union secretariat is in Delta.

If you have visited Delta State University and have been to their lecture halls, you will know it is some- thing else; mostly when it is time for lecture, you see how tight the hall is and how students are  moved to  primary schools. Our state  is blessed with abundant resources, yet our schools are in bad shape, mostly the lecture halls. A school where there is no constant light, no water, and all roads  to the campuses are riddled with potholes, a situation where students  go to Ethiope River to fetch water and it was those things  we were protesting that led to my arrest.

I was arrested by the Abraka Divisional Police Officer, saying it was an order from above and my arrest was championed by a  former  union leader;  it was surprising. I was  taken to Abraka Police Station where they  seized my phones because they knew I was going to call the Inspector-General of Police and mobilise students across the country. The next day, we were rushed to court and what did they say?

That we were armed robbers and that was how we were remanded for one month; that was my only sad  moment but still I never regret it. My arrest did not deter the union activities, my struggle for the emancipation of Nigerian students is stronger, because I know that there is no peace without struggle.

What have you to say on  the state of education in the country?

It is  unfortunate that the educational sector has  been neglected over time. It is surprising that those who are destroying education in the country are those who also passed through the system and they  believed they can take their children outside this country for studies. It is clear that we are not ready to improve  our education system.

In the 2011 budget, we understand  that the budget for education is a little higher than the previous one but the questions now are,  how are we utilising the money accruing  to the educational sector? Do we work with the policy of education and also implement it? These are serious questions that we must address and President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration should do all within his power to improve the  education sector.

What is your advice to Nigerian students?

I will continue to preach the gospel of one-man-one vote and to inform them that the way they handle the  elections  will determine the future of  education in this country, so, I advise them not to look at money- bag politicians.