The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, has commended the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his support towards the youth empowerment and economic independence during the recently concluded Students to CEO Entrepreneurship Summit in Akure, Ondo State.
The student body subsequently issued a challenge to elected and appointed public office holders across Nigeria to replicate such tangible investments in the lives of undergraduates and young entrepreneurs within their respective constituencies.
In a statement made available to journalists on Monday by the NANS Southwest Coordinator, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode popularly known as Billioncodes, the association noted that the empowerment package provided at the summit represents the exact model of intervention Nigerian students require.
The event, organised by the NANS Joint Campus Council (JCC) Ondo Axis under the theme “Unlocking Ondo State Students’ Potential for Economic Growth,” featured the distribution of practical business equipment, including industrial sewing machines, deep freezers, power generators, and trade tools designed to establish sustainable enterprises.
Speaking on the impact of the initiative, Comrade Adeyemo, who personally attended the summit in Akure, noted that the empowerment packages extended beyond traditional political rhetoric to deliver direct, practical tools for trade.
He stressed that what was displayed represented far more than the usual speeches associated with youth programmes, standing instead as tangible investment capable of helping young people start businesses, acquire productive independence, and become employers of labour.
The student leadership emphasized that at a time when graduate unemployment and the high cost of starting a business pose severe challenges to young Nigerians, political engagement must move beyond courtesy visits, political meetings, and temporary welfare packages. Students genuinely need access to skills, capital, equipment, mentorship, and opportunities capable of transforming their economic circumstances.
NANS called on Governors, Ministers, Senators, House of Representatives members, Commissioners, and Local Government Chairmen across the Southwest and the nation to implement similar measurable interventions within their domains.
The coordinator noted that if every public office holder deliberately empowered a significant number of students and young entrepreneurs within their constituency every year, the cumulative effect on unemployment, productivity, and economic development would be enormous.
The association also lauded the executive leadership of NANS JCC Ondo Axis for prioritizing economic self-reliance and conceptualizing a programme that places entrepreneurship at the centre of student development.
Comrade Adeyemo urged student unions across the country to focus on constructive strategic partnerships that prepare undergraduates for life after graduation, emphasising that empowerment must remain practical, impact must be measurable, and public service must ultimately improve lives.