Alausa Urges NANS to Mobilise 10m Student Votes for Tinubu in 2027

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has urged the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and other student groups to mobilise 10 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Alausa made the call in Abuja when the leadership of NANS and other student associations visited him, saying students had a direct stake in the outcome of the election because the administration’s education policies would affect their access to education, skills, employment and other opportunities.

The minister said continuity was necessary to consolidate reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration in student financing, technical and vocational education, infrastructure and access to tertiary education.

He identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), technical and vocational education and training (TVET), student accommodation, campus renewable energy, transportation and the Student Venture Capital Grant as key initiatives through which the administration was addressing longstanding challenges in the sector.

Alausa said about N200 billion had been committed to NELFUND, with more than 1.6 million students benefiting from the scheme.

He said recent presidential directives on additional funding sources would further strengthen the sustainability of the programme, assuring students that the monthly upkeep allowance would continue.

According to him, the administration has also committed more than N200 billion to expanding student accommodation, while over N150 billion has been allocated to TVET infrastructure.

The minister said the Student Venture Capital Grant was providing students with opportunities to turn innovative ideas into businesses and become employers of labour, adding that government was considering raising the grant ceiling in its next phase.

He said the Federal Government was also addressing infrastructure and welfare issues that affect students’ ability to learn and complete their programmes.

Alausa disclosed that renewable energy projects were being expanded across federal tertiary institutions to provide more reliable electricity for laboratories, workshops, libraries and hostels.

He added that more campus tricycles would be deployed to improve transportation, while continued engagement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was helping to sustain academic stability.

According to the minister, the administration remains committed to ensuring that students spend the expected period completing their programmes.

He said the government’s efforts were aimed at ensuring that “a four-year programme should take four years.”

Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Comrade Sunday Asefon, said the visit was intended to strengthen engagement between the Presidency, the Ministry of Education and organised student groups.

Asefon commended NANS and other student leaders for their advocacy on student welfare, saying their involvement was important in identifying challenges across tertiary institutions and developing practical solutions with government.

The NANS President, Comrade Babatunde Afeez Akinteye, also commended Tinubu and Alausa for interventions such as NELFUND and TVET.

Akinteye said the student loan scheme had made a significant difference to beneficiaries, particularly through the monthly upkeep allowance, which he described as an important source of relief for students facing financial difficulties.

He, however, raised concerns over federal scholarship awards, illegal admissions and accreditation problems in some institutions.

The NANS president urged the government to strengthen regulatory measures against institutions admitting students into programmes without the required approval or capacity.

He said student leaders were willing to work with the government to address the challenges and protect students from being stranded after years of study.

Responding, Alausa assured the students that the concerns raised were receiving the attention of the ministry.

He said efforts were underway to address funding challenges affecting the Federal Scholarship Awards, improve admission processes and review the accreditation system to prevent students from being admitted into unapproved programmes.

The minister said relevant agencies and stakeholders were being mobilised to implement corrective measures without unnecessary delay.

Alausa also assured the student leaders that the ministry would maintain an open channel of communication with them and continue to respond to issues affecting their education and welfare.

He said the government would remain committed to implementing Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in education, arguing that sustained investment in education and skills development would give young Nigerians the tools to secure employment, create businesses and contribute to national development.