A 300 Level student of Bayero University, Kano, Umar Faruq, has emerged as the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students.
The president emerged at the election in Abuja on Saturday and replaces Sunday Asefon, who was elected in 2020.
Faruq, who is studying Library Science, defeated Usman Barambu, scoring 202 votes out of the 310 total votes cast in the election.
Faruq, who addressed newsmen shortly after he was declared winner of the election, vowed to swing into action immediately to see to the resolution of the protracted strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
He said he would immediately meet with the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, the leadership of ASUU and other stakeholders on the need for the parties to return to the negotiation table with the view to resolving the impasse for students to return to their campuses.
He said: “I want to assure Nigerian students that in no distant time, I will work to make sure that the leadership of ASUU will meet with the Federal Government to make sure that Nigerian students go back to campus.
“NANS has a new president now and we will discuss the Minister of Education, with the leadership of ASUU, so that we can come to a roundtable to make sure they call off this long strike.
“We will make sure we protect our students at all levels because that is the first priority of my leadership.”
Faruq followed this up with a statement he issued on the challenges facing Nigerian students he contested to address.
The statement reads: “I will start by expressing my profound gratitude to Allah, who has been with us throughout this turbulent journey. I sincerely appreciate the esteemed Senators of our dear organization; NANS who have stood on the path of honour regardless of the hurdles.
“To the stakeholders who have upheld the true tenets of our founding fathers; Your efforts are well appreciated. To my co-contestants, we have all given a good fight and agree that it is the time to forge ahead.My election as President of our beloved organization; the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), marks the beginning of a new era of struggle, this is indeed a REVIVIFICATION AGENDA as we are set to revive the lost glory of our organization. It is high time we rejigged the dreams of our founding fathers for a better education system in Nigeria.
“Although there were some destructive elements that tried to shortchange the general will of Nigerian students during the process of the just concluded convention, they formed oppression and tried to buy the students’ mandate, they orchestrated different vicious plans that were inimical to the existence of our organization, but with the support of genuine students and NANS Senators, light conquered the darkness. Our victory is blossoming, and it comes with great glory.
“Let me take you a bit down a historical lane. The struggle for emancipation of Nigerian students started with the creation of the West African Students Union (WASU) under our erudite ancestor, Ladipo Solanke, in 1925. The establishment of University College Ibadan in 1945 begot a new era of struggle as the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) replaced WASU.
“It is disheartening to see university students at home for the past 6 months. The fact that the leadership of ASUU and the Federal government have held a series of meetings without a fruitful outcome is heartbreaking, NANS, under my leadership, is ready to be the genuine voice of the Students in this negotiation as we demand an immediate end to the prolonged industrial actions, Failure to have resolution within the shortest period available will be faced with decisive action from Nigerian Students.”