SPEECH BY THE SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT ON STUDENTS ENGAGEMENT AT THE RENEWED HOPE STUDENT LEADERS ENGAGEMENT AND DIGITAL ACCELERATION PROGRAMME NORTH EAST ZONE.
PROTOCOL
The Vice Chancellor, Gombe State University, representatives DG Enagy commission, Representatives of DG NITDA, Representatives of MD NELFUND and Representative of Honourable Minister of Education, distinguished guests, student union leaders, campus leaders, representatives of student associations across the North East, members of the media, and, most importantly, the great students of the North East.
It is a great honour and privilege to be here with you today at the Renewed Hope Student Leaders Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme for the North East Zone.
I bring you warm greetings from His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and reaffirm his administration’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerian students remain at the centre of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
This engagement is built around one simple but important message.
The government is listening to students.
The government is engaging with students.
And the government is creating opportunities for students.
Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, education remains a major priority of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Through NELFUND, the Federal Government has taken a historic step towards removing financial barriers to tertiary education. Students who previously struggled to meet tuition and other approved institutional charges now have access to government backed financial support, while eligible students can also receive monthly upkeep allowances.
The objective is clear.
No Nigerian should be forced to abandon education simply because their family cannot afford the cost.
Today, we are also witnessing greater stability in our universities.
For too long, students lost valuable months and years because of prolonged industrial disputes. Today, we are witnessing a new era of academic stability, with three years of uninterrupted academic calendars.
This stability gives our students something fundamental, the opportunity to graduate on time.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are committed to ensuring that a four year programme takes four years and a five year programme takes five years.
That is what our students deserve.
The administration is also strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training TVET because education is not only about certificates.
Education is also about skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, productivity and the ability to earn a decent livelihood.
For young Nigerians who may not follow the traditional university pathway, TVET provides another route to self respect, economic independence and meaningful contribution to national development.
To our Nigerian students and young people.
The world is changing rapidly.
Technology is transforming the way we learn, work, communicate and do business, and Nigeria must not be left behind.
We are now living in a digital economy where knowledge, innovation, artificial intelligence, technology and digital skills are becoming increasingly essential to success.
That is why this programme is not simply a student engagement.
It is also a Digital Acceleration Programme.
We want Nigerian students to move from being merely consumers of technology to creators, innovators and entrepreneurs.
We want students from the North East to compete with their peers anywhere in Nigeria and anywhere in the world.
Whether you are studying medicine, engineering, law, nursing, agriculture, education, social sciences or any other discipline, digital skills can expand your opportunities and give you access to a much wider world.
To our student leaders, I want to challenge you today.
Leadership is not about holding a position. Leadership is about service, responsibility and impact.
As student leaders, your responsibility goes beyond representing yourselves. You must become advocates for your fellow students and agents of positive change in your institutions and communities.
You must become the bridge between government interventions and students on your campuses.
When NELFUND opportunities are available, tell your students.
When scholarships and skills-development programmes are available, tell your students.
When digital opportunities are available, tell your students.
And when government wants to hear the concerns and aspirations of students, provide constructive, honest and responsible feedback.
We are not here to silence student voices.
We are here to strengthen the relationship between government and Nigerian students.
A strong student leadership is one that informs, mobilises, represents and serves.
To the brilliant students of the North East sitting here today, I want you to understand one thing.
Your location must never determine your destiny.
Being a student in the North East should never limit the size of your dreams.
Technology has opened doors that geography can no longer close.
You can learn from anywhere.
You can work with people anywhere.
You can build a business from anywhere.
You can create solutions that can be used anywhere in the world.
So, use your smartphone.
Use the internet to discover scholarships, internships, fellowships, training programmes and other opportunities offered by government ministries, departments and agencies.
Learn a digital skill.
Build something.
Start a business.
Create content.
Learn about artificial intelligence.
Develop solutions to problems in your community.
Do not wait for government to do everything for you.
The responsibility of government is to create an enabling environment, provide opportunities and support citizens to succeed.
Your responsibility is to recognise those opportunities, acquire the necessary skills and use them to transform your life and your community.
Do not underestimate yourself.
Do not allow your circumstances to define your future.
And do not wait for the perfect opportunity.
Start with what you have. Start where you are. Start now.
CONCLUSION
Ladies and gentlemen, let me assure you that the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement remains committed to ensuring that the voices, concerns and aspirations of Nigerian students remain at the heart of our engagement with government.
The Renewed Hope Agenda is about creating a Nigeria where a young person can dream, acquire knowledge, develop skills and build a meaningful future, regardless of their background or where they come from.
So, to our resilient and dogged students of the North East, I say.
Stay informed.
Stay engaged.
Acquire skills.
Embrace technology.
Take advantage of government opportunities.
And, most importantly, believe in yourselves.
The future of Nigeria belongs to you.
Together, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we will build a Nigeria where talent is rewarded, opportunity is accessible, innovation is encouraged and every young Nigerian has the chance to fulfil their potential.
God bless the students of the North East.
God bless Nigerian students.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you.
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