Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin has called on Nigerian students to support President Bola Tinubu’s re‑election to sustain gains in the education sector.
Speaking Friday in Abuja while chairing the 45th anniversary of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Barau said Tinubu’s administration has shown genuine commitment to tackling national challenges through bold reforms.
“The time is here for Nigerian students to show their appreciation by supporting the second term bid of Mr President,” he told delegates.
The Deputy Senate President argued that a second term would ensure continuity of student‑focused policies, including the new loan scheme.
He said: “Let them continue to cooperate with the government so that all the goodies that Mr President is providing will continue,” describing the current government as youth‑friendly and focused on transforming lives through education.
“Now, we have a government that is helping the youth… making it possible for the children of the poor to pursue their educational pursuits,” Barau added.
In a statement by media aide Ismail Mudashir, the Deputy Senate President praised Tinubu’s “bold and impactful” reforms across sectors, noting that the ongoing initiatives are laying a strong foundation for national development.
Barau, who also serves as First Deputy Speaker of the Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS Parliament, said education remains the most powerful tool for transformation.
He listed the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND as a key intervention expanding access to higher education.
He also cited new tertiary institutions, including the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, in his village, improved engagement with academic unions and moves to stabilise the academic calendar as critical steps.
“Our young people must be equipped not just with certificates, but with skills, innovation, and entrepreneurial capacity,” he stressed.
The Deputy Senate President acknowledged NANS’ historic role in nation‑building and called the body a critical partner in youth development.
“Let your activism always be guided by patriotism, integrity, and a genuine desire to build a sound nation that we shall all be proud of. Let this 45th anniversary be more than a celebration of the past; let it be a renewed commitment to the future: A future of unity, opportunity, justice, equity, and shared prosperity,” he said.