The Presidency has declared that the era of prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which crippled Nigeria’s tertiary education for decades, is now history.
The declaration was made at the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, during the North Central Zonal edition of the Renewed Hope Student Leaders Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme.
Addressing over 1,000 student leaders drawn from the seven states of the North Central, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Asefon Dayo, said Nigerian universities are now enjoying an unprecedented three years of uninterrupted academic calendar under President Bola Tinubu.
The event had in attendance the executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), the National Association of University Students (NAUS), and the Student Union Government Presidents, among others.
“I remember vividly in 2020/2021 when I was President of NANS; in 2021 I led a huge protest against the then Honourable Minister of Education, where our schools and our campuses were closed.
“But today, our universities and tertiary institutions are now celebrating three years of uninterrupted academic calendars because of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That long ASUU strike, that long ASUU agreement between the federal government and ASUU, has been signed by a man that understands the nitty-gritty of administration,” he said.
According to him, President Tinubu believes that “the only legacy that you can give a child is education” and has therefore made education access and stability a cardinal point of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The presidential aide said the engagement was beyond celebrating the end of strikes, stressing that the next frontier is equipping Nigerian students to compete in the global digital economy.
Dayo listed artificial intelligence, data analysis, cybersecurity, software development, digital marketing and other emerging technologies as areas where Nigerian students must become creators and not just seekers of opportunities.
He disclosed that the programme which was held weeks ago in the South-South will move to other geopolitical zones in the coming weeks as part of a deliberate strategy to engage students directly and reposition them as active partners in nation-building.
“As a student leader, your responsibility goes beyond representation. You must promote excellence, uphold integrity, encourage dialogue, and foster peace and coexistence within your institution,” he charged.
Packaged by Dare Raji
