Student Unions in Lagos endorse Sanwo-Olu for second term, Tinubu for presidency
….acknowledge Governors “open-hand-policy”, investment in infrastructure
….Applauds Gov’s SA, Wahab on outstanding engagement
By Moses Adeniyi
Student Unions in Lagos across higher institutions of learning in the State under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have endorsed Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for a second term.
The students who trooped in thousands on Friday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, to declare their support for the reelection bid of Lagos State Governor, also declared their support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
At the mega endorsement rally, the leadership of the Student Unions across 10 higher institutions in the State with support of the umbrella body, NANS, said the endorsement was informed by unprecedented investments by the Governor Sanwo-Olu led Administration in the education sector.
They mentioned that the Administration introduced face-lifting policies which led to upgrade of institutions in the State, raising the standards of higher learning.
At the endorsement campaign, NANS leadership, southwest, presented Sanwo-Olu a “5-Star Aluta General” recognition, recognising him for what they described as giving them “good educational platform”.
The Chairman of NANS, Lagos, Olusesi Tolulope, in what he appreciated as “fatherly love”, said the students has “no negative feeling against you (Sanwo-Olu)”, but are full of support for his second term, noting that the endorsement was first of its kind in the history of the State.
“No student in Lagos State will ever say our Governor has not done anything. We appreciate you for the upgrading you did. The upgrading was a top notch. We have a governor that cares so much about us; that has continued the educational platform built by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said, chanting solidarity song.
Student Union Government representative from the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Samuel Chukwudi, appreciated what he described as the “open hand policy” of the Governor, which according to him, has given opportunities to non indigenous students into Lagos institutions.
He further appreciated the transition initiative under the Sanwo-Olu’s Administration which informed the uplift of colleges of education in the State to LASUED, the State’s university of education.
Representing the National body of Students Union, the National Public Relations Officer, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Yisa Giwa, described Sanwo-Olu as “working, super-active Governor”, appreciating him, his deputy and cabinet members.
He said: “He has done a lot especially in the education sector. It has never happened in Nigeria before, this is the first time”, acknowledging infrastructure development in higher institutions of learning in the State.
Assuring support for his reelection, he said “we are here to tell you that we are with you in this second term and we will be there for you any time you call on us – morning, afternoon, night, and mid-night, we will be there for you.”
The President, National Union of Lagos State Students, Comrade, Charleswell Ogbela appreciated the Governor, recognising the payment of bursary and grant for scholarships for indigenous students of the State.
According to him, the bursary paid to indigenous students was increased by 100 percent to N50,000 from N25,000 by the Sanwo-Olu led Administration.
He assured millions of votes from Lagos indigenous students constituency, mentioning that the standard of State Universities have been raised under the Administration.
The student union leadership unanimously appreciated the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, acknowledging his commitment and leadership to student affairs in all the tertiary institutions in Lagos.
Speaking, Governor Sanwo-Olu applauded the leadership of the student unions, stating that investment of the State in education under his Administration is just a starting point.
He promised them that the slogan of his reelection tagged “A Greater Lagos Rising” has been articulated to ensure development to create ample opportunities with enabling environment for students to maximise their potentials.
Sanwo-Olu who noted that higher institutions in the State did not experience any strike when the nation suffered an over eight months strike by the Academic Staff Unions of Universities (ASUU), said his Administration is committed to ensure better standards in tertiary institutions of the State with competitive strength globally.
“I want to thank you all for coming out in large number to validate all what we have started with you in your various Universities. I want to say that we are just starting. The greater Lagos is rising. It is rising in our Universities, it is rising in our College of Education, it is rising in our Universities of Science and Technology, it is rising even in our secondary schools. The greater Lagos is rising and it will touch each and everyone of you.
“I’m sure you are beginning to see meaningful development in your schools. When there were strike in the whole of the Country, all the higher institutions in Lagos were not in one day on strike,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Praying for successes of the students, he said, “What we are about is about your future, it is about providing opportunities for you, it’s about ensuring you have a future that you can rely on. You have a future that you can depend on, we have no other Country, this is our Country, this is our State.
“It is for us to create that ambience, that opportunity where some of you would become business owners, entrepreneurs, you would become leaders in your own communities, you would become civil society advocates, you would become professionals in whatsoever you want to do.
“That is what this government is about and that is why we are asking you to support us, to work with us and we will ensure that happens,” he added.
Noting that during his Administration the number of Universities have moved from one to three, he said, “we are on the conservation of making our Universities the best not only in the Country, but compete among the best in the world.”
He called for the students to vote for all candidates of the APC in the State.
The Governor launched a fleet of buses for the students’ use to boost transportation in their various campuses, saying “we want life to be meaningful for you, we want live to make sense for you, that is why we are doing what we are doing.”
He promised the Government would do more to provide more opportunities for the students in all sectors, by providing the enabling environment for “them to become outstanding Nigerians in whatever profession you do.”
