August 12, (THEWILL) — The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to take further steps in addressing pressing educational infrastructure and student welfare issues in tertiary institutions in the state.
The appeal was made during a press conference on Monday, August 11, 2025, in Uyo, by the association’s National Executive Committee representative, Zonal Executive Committee representative, and the Joint Campus Committee (JCC) from Akwa Ibom State.
While commending Governor Umo Eno for what they described as “unprecedented strides” in the education sector, the students’ body said the time had come to resolve key gaps affecting learners across tertiary institutions in the state.
NANS applauded the establishment of model primary schools with free uniforms, bags, and shoes for pupils, as well as the N1 billion bursary scheme for students in tertiary institutions. They also commended the administration for sponsoring 39 Akwa Ibom students to the United Kingdom for an education exchange programme in partnership with the Borough of Southwark.
However, the association urged the inclusion of student leaders in the bursary payment committee to bridge the communication gap between government and beneficiaries. They also called for the inclusion of students from state-owned institutions like the Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing in the bursary scheme.
The student leaders further appealed for funding and logistical support for the National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students (NAAKISS Worldwide) to enable it conduct its global elections. They also called for the establishment of a viable scholarship scheme through the Akwa Ibom State Scholarship Board to complement the bursary programme.
On infrastructure, NANS urged the state government to improve facilities in tertiary institutions to ensure a more conducive learning environment. They also requested that the governor hold a special “town square meeting” with students, similar to those held with market women, traders, artisans, and other groups.
According to them, such an interface would allow for direct dialogue on sensitive issues that cannot be discussed in the media, while fulfilling Governor Eno’s campaign promise of meeting students quarterly. They noted that the student community contributed significantly to the governor’s electoral victory in 2023.
The group also called for the immediate employment and deployment of primary school teachers to rural schools to address manpower shortages and sustain the model primary school initiative under the state’s ARISE policy.
NANS announced plans to lead over 1.1 million students in a solidarity walk to the Government House, Uyo, on August 19, 2025, to present a hard copy of their demands to Governor Eno and to seek a direct audience with him for the first time since his assumption of office.
They maintained that the demands were made in the spirit of partnership, with the aim of consolidating the governor’s achievements in the education sector and advancing the future of Akwa Ibom students.
The press conference was jointly signed by Heritage Akan, Emmanuel Akpan, National Treasurer of NANS and Assistant Secretary of NANS Zone, and Emmanuel Peter, Chairman of NANS JCC, Akwa Ibom State, on behalf of the NANS Akwa Ibom State Caucus.
