Lucky Emonefe, the recently elected President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has called on President Bola Tinubu to endorse a nationwide annual bursary of ₦200,000 for all Nigerian students.
Speaking at his inaugural news conference in Abuja on Sunday, Emonefe highlighted the significance of the proposed fund as a means to alleviate the economic impact of the Tinubu administration’s reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies.
The NANS election, held on November 27, 2023, saw Emonefe emerge as the winner, succeeding the outgoing NANS President, Usman Barambu.
Emonefe emphasized, “Under my leadership, while we won’t blindly support government decisions, we won’t allow ourselves to be manipulated for any individual or group’s malicious agenda against the state. We are committed to closely monitoring, analyzing, and scrutinizing government policies, ensuring they align with the well-being of students and the broader Nigerian populace before formulating our stance on governance. Our focus is unequivocally on the interests of the students.”
Continuing, he passionately appealed to President Tinubu, stating, “We urge Mr. President to consider approving a national annual bursary of ₦200,000 for all Nigerians, irrespective of their creed or tribe. This initiative aims to mitigate the economic challenges resulting from the overdue economic reforms implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
