Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Association of Nigerian Students has issued a strong rebuttal to social commentator Ojudu Babafemi, dismissing claims that the student body remained silent during the abduction of schoolchildren and other crises affecting Nigerian students. In a press release dated Friday, July 24, 2026, the President of NANS, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, provided a detailed chronology of the association's advocacy efforts, including press statements, community visits, and strategic meetings with government and security officials, to counter what he described as a "misleading notion" about the leadership's commitment to student welfare. The response comes amid heightened scrutiny of student advocacy groups as the country grapples with recurring security challenges in educational institutions.
Akinteye, who was elected on May 25, 2026, immediately took action following the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, issuing an official press statement decrying the incident and mobilising the association's structures to the affected communities. According to the NANS President, the leadership visited the communities from which the students were abducted to commiserate with the families of the victims, addressed the press, and called on the Federal Government to be more proactive. The student body also met with the Oyo State Government, the Commissioner of Police, military personnel deployed to the Oriire community, and local security outfits to demand the immediate rescue and safe return of the abducted students.
Defending the association's approach, Akinteye stated that NANS opted for "intellectual engagement" rather than protests to avoid overstretching security operatives or placing them at a disadvantage against the abductors. "What makes a great leader is the ability to identify and adopt the best approach to every challenge," he said, adding that the association has moved beyond "empty and unproductive protests" to constructive dialogue and productive advocacy. This strategic shift, he argued, has yielded tangible results, including progress in securing outstanding disbursements from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). According to Akinteye, when the current leadership came on board, NELFUND had not paid three months' upkeep allowances to beneficiaries, but through intellectual engagement, the outstanding disbursements have been reduced to just one month, with the payment of the remaining month already underway.
The NANS President also highlighted that exactly 55 days after the abduction of the Oyo students, the association issued another official press statement calling on the government to ensure their immediate rescue and safe return—a day before the victims were eventually freed. The association also noted its involvement in the kidnapping of students in Zamfara State, whose victims have since been rescued and brought home safely. Akinteye expressed frustration that critics calling for NANS to stage protests often would not allow their own children to join such demonstrations if the association eventually called for one. The association has also distanced itself from calls for mass protests over the abduction, warning that such actions could undermine ongoing rescue efforts and embolden the kidnappers.
The clarification comes amid a broader debate over the effectiveness of student activism in addressing Nigeria's security challenges. Akinteye's administration, which was inaugurated on July 11, 2026, has pledged to focus on constructive diplomacy, intellectual rigor, and proactive engagement with state actors. The association has also declared a state of emergency on students' hostels and vowed tougher oversight of NELFUND, reflecting its broader agenda to address the welfare and security concerns of over 40 million Nigerian students at home and abroad. As the country prepares for the 2027 general elections, the role of student advocacy groups in shaping policy and holding the government accountable is likely to remain under the spotlight.
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