In the early hours of today, I stumbled upon a Facebook post by Mr. Ojudu Babafemi asserting that the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) was silent over the abduction of schoolchildren. It is pertinent to set the record straight and correct this misleading notion.

Our activities are not hidden, as our publicity and feedback have been timely, up-to-date, and widespread across the media space. As the apex leadership of Nigerian students and the largest Black student movement in the world, we have not and will never lose focus. Our consciousness remains uncompromised, and at no point have we detached ourselves from the realities, aspirations, and challenges facing Nigerian students. After all, we stand where they stand, sit where they sit, and share in their pains. More than ever before, the current leadership remains close to Nigerian students, and at no point have we been silent on the issues affecting them.

Contrary to the claims of Mr. Ojudu Babafemi, NANS, under my leadership, is proactive in advocating for the improved welfare of students, the security of lives and property in the country, and other issues of national importance.

Be informed, Sir, that I was elected on 25 May 2026, and immediately thereafter, I issued an official press statement decrying the continuous abduction of students in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as well as in Zamfara State, whose victims have all been rescued and brought home safely.

Immediately following that statement, I mobilized all the structures of NANS—including Joint Campus Councils (JCC), zonal, and national leaderships—to Oyo State, where we visited the communities from which students were abducted to commiserate with the families of the victims.

Thereafter, we addressed the press, calling on the Federal Government to be more proactive. We also met with the Oyo State Government to demand the immediate rescue and safe return of the abducted students. Similarly, we engaged security operatives—particularly the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, military personnel deployed to the Oriire community, and local security outfits—to ensure our students returned home safely.

Let it interest you, Sir, that we did not toe the path of unproductive protests and still achieved the desired results. We opted for intellectual engagement instead of protests in order not to overstretch security operatives or place them at a disadvantage against criminal elements. What makes a great leader is the ability to identify and adopt the best approach to every challenge.

Specifically, 55 days after the initial abduction of these students, we issued an official press statement calling on the government to ensure their immediate rescue and safe return—and the students were rescued shortly after.

Going forward, be informed, Sir, that NANS has left the era of empty and unproductive protests for intellectual engagement, constructive dialogue, and productive advocacy. The most infuriating part is that many of those calling on NANS to stage protests would not allow their own children to join if NANS eventually called for one.

Through this strategic approach, the current administration has delivered tangible results across multiple sectors:

  1. NELFUND Upkeep Allowances: When we came on board, NELFUND had unpaid arrears spanning three months for beneficiaries across Nigerian tertiary institutions. Today, through intellectual engagement and constructive dialogue, the outstanding disbursements have been systematically cleared down to just one month, with final payments currently underway.
  2. Reinstatement of Suspended Students: We secured the reinstatement of LAUTECH students who were suspended by university authorities. We also secured the reinstatement of the Students' Union Government (SUG) President of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), alongside other suspended FUOYE students.
  3. Overall Student Rights Protection: In total, we have secured the reinstatement of over 14 students who were unjustly suspended from their respective campuses nationwide.

All of these achievements were secured without having to shut down campuses, disrupt government agencies, or stage unnecessary protests. The era of inconsequential and futile protests is in the past.

In light of the foregoing, Mr. Ojudu Babafemi is encouraged to acquaint himself with the activities and interventions of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). The activities of the Association are in the public domain and remain accessible to all through our official communication channels, including the official website of NANS at nanshq.org.

NANS, under my leadership, will never be silent on issues affecting Nigerian students and other matters of national importance. NANS remains committed to meaningful advocacy, intellectual engagement, constructive dialogue, and the overall well-being of Nigerian students.

I hope Mr. Ojudu Babafemi is having a pleasant time on his farm and, going forward, will also find time to keep up with the activities and interventions of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). NANS has not derailed from its ideals and core values. It remains the true voice of every Nigerian student—fearless in advocacy, pragmatic and transparent in action, and consistent in delivering results.

Signed:

Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, GCNS

President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)