In an exclusive interview, Comrade Amb. Megbowon Olusola Ezekiel, ACPA, Secretary General of the Association of Southern Nigerian Students (ASONIS), praised the remarkable efforts of Hon. Sunday Adedayo Asefon, Senior Special Assistant on Students Engagement to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his unwavering dedication to advancing student welfare and representation in national policies.
He also commended the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), particularly the Senate arm under Distinguished Senate President, Senator Babatunde Akinteye (popularly known as BABTEE), for their role in ensuring students’ participation in Nigeria’s 64th Independence anniversary celebrations, a significant event that highlights the importance of students in the nation’s progress.
Comrade Ezekiel also acknowledged the valuable contributions of Hon. Ayo Wisdom, Minister of Youths, and Hon. Seyi Tinubu, for ensuring full student engagement in shaping national educational policies. Their efforts, he noted, have created greater opportunities for students to play active roles in national governance. He also extended his congratulations to Comrade Lucky Emonefe, President of NANS, and the National Executive Council for their outstanding leadership in steering the student body towards unity and engagement on issues of national importance.
In his remarks, Comrade Ezekiel stressed the critical need for continuous collaboration and unity among all student associations in Nigeria. He asserted that NANS, as the umbrella and mother union, must bring on board all other student bodies, including the National Association of Nigerian Colleges of Education Students (NANCES), the National Association of University Students (NAUS), the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), the Association of Southern Nigerian Students (ASONIS), and the National Association of Northern Nigerian Students, among others. He emphasized that working collectively under the leadership of NANS would create a stronger student movement that can more effectively tackle national challenges and ensure the sustained progress of student advocacy across the nation.
Furthermore, Comrade Ezekiel called for the establishment of a Student Association House in Abuja to serve as a central hub where representatives from all regions and educational institutions can collaborate on national issues and further strengthen student unity.
He also urged that all student associations be fully registered and incorporated with the Ministry of Education, the Office of the SSA on Students Engagement, and the National Assembly to streamline engagement and enhance access to national programs and benefits.
Comrade Ezekiel also emphasized the need for equitable distribution of national resources, ensuring that benefits from the Federal Government reach student associations at all levels—from national, regional, and sub-regional, to state and local levels. This, he argued, is essential to ensuring that no student body is marginalized and that every group enjoys the fruits of national development.
Addressing the significance of national liberty, Comrade Ezekiel called on Nigerian students and the masses to continuously celebrate and sustain the nation’s hard-earned freedom. He urged students to appreciate the struggles that have led to Nigeria’s independence and to actively engage in efforts that will preserve the country’s unity, democracy, and prosperity. “Our national liberty is not just a milestone of the past,” he stated. “It is a responsibility we must continue to uphold. As students and citizens, it is our duty to work together to maintain and build on the freedom that our forebears fought for, ensuring that every Nigerian enjoys peace, equity, and justice.”
He further encouraged the students and the general public to remain united in the pursuit of national progress, ensuring that the ideals of freedom, justice, and democracy are continually celebrated and sustained. He noted that Independence Day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for national liberty, and that it is a call to action for all Nigerians—students included—to contribute to the nation’s growth and stability.
In his closing remarks, Comrade Ezekiel reaffirmed his confidence in the leadership of Hon. Sunday Asefon, Senator Babatunde Akinteye (BABTEE), Hon. Ayo Wisdom, Hon. Seyi Tinubu, and Comrade Lucky Emonefe, urging them to continue fostering collaboration among student bodies. He stressed that bringing all associations under the NANS umbrella will ensure a stronger and more unified representation that can advocate for the rights and opportunities of students nationwide.
He concluded by encouraging students and the masses to celebrate Nigeria’s independence not just as a moment in history, but as an ongoing commitment to building a nation of freedom, prosperity, and shared progress for all.
