By Mariam Abeeb
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has urged the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to mobilize 10 million student votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by NANS and other student bodies at the Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja, Dr. Alausa emphasized that sustaining current administration reforms in student financing, vocational education, and campus infrastructure requires political continuity.
The Minister urged student leaders to secure 10 million votes for President Tinubu in 2027 to protect ongoing investments in student welfare, entrepreneurship, and academic calendar stability.
He highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major success, stating that over N200 billion has been committed, benefiting more than 1.6 million students nationwide.
He assured that monthly upkeep allowances would continue uninterrupted.
The federal government has committed over N200 billion toward expanding student accommodation and more than N150 billion into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) infrastructure, alongside renewable energy projects for tertiary campuses.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a strike-free academic environment through ongoing engagement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to guarantee that four-year courses are completed on schedule.
Responding to NANS’ demands, Dr. Alausa assured the delegation that the Ministry is actively addressing scholarship funding gaps, reviewing course accreditation protocols, and taking firm administrative action against institutions admitting students into unapproved programs.
NANS President, Comrade Babatunde Afeez Akinteye, praised the impact of NELFUND but called on the federal government to resolve funding delays for Federal Scholarship Awards, address illegal university admissions, and tackle unaccredited tertiary courses.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Comrade Sunday Asefon, noted that the meeting forms part of ongoing efforts to build a direct partnership between the Presidency, the Ministry, and the organized student movement.
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