National officers of the National Association of
Nigerian Students (NANS) who were elected at the 27th National
Convention of the apex Nigeria students’ body held from 13th – 18th
December 2012 in Uyo the Akwa Ibom State capital have been sworn in. The
occasion, which was held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on
Thursday 14th of February 2013 featured an inaugural lecture by His
Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Executive Governor of Imo State. Dignitaries
present at the historical event included the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Students and Youths - Comrade Jude Imagwe, the Vice Chancellor of Afe
Babalola University – Professor Sidi Osho, as well as past and present leaders
of NANS. In line with NANS tradition, the oath of office was administered on
the NANS President – Comrade Adeyinka Gbadebo by the 27th convention chairman,
Comrade Khalifa Adamu Bello. The NANS President thereafter administered the
oath of office on his exco members who were charged to uphold the general
interest of Nigerian students at all times.
While addressing journalists at the event, the Vice President
Special Duties of NANS, Comrade Ubon Marcus commended the Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe
for his commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region in particular
and the country in general. Comrade Marcus noted that Elder Orubebe is one of
the outstanding Ministers in the President Goodluck Jonathan cabinet due to his
competence and passion for excellence expressed in the discharge of his duties,
and emphasized that Nigerian students are impressed with the level of work on the
East-West road and the close supervision of the project by the Hon. Minister.
He further stated that with the level of on-going work on the road, the project
will indeed be completed in 2014 as promised by the Hon. Minister.
The student leader also congratulated Elder Orubebe for
his loyalty and unwavering support for President Jonathan, noting that such
support base for Mr. President is highly necessary as no leader can succeed
without the support of his lieutenants. He however lamented over recent verbal
attacks on the Hon. Minister and described it as unnecessary and inimical to
our growth as a nation. According to Comrade Marcus, what the Hon. Minister faced
is as a result of his support for His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan and
urged him to remain undeterred in his service to His Excellency and the nation.
The NANS Special Duties VP also called on Nigerians to show more support for Mr.
President noting that by the end of his administration, President Goodluck Jonathan
will be one of the best presidents Nigeria has ever produced.
The NANS Vice President also seized the opportunity to
applaud the Super Eagles for their victory at the 2013 African Cup of Nations
and subsequent award of National honors by His Excellency President Goodluck
Jonathan. He expressed his happiness with President Goodluck Jonathan for
providing adequate funding for sports development and his removal of politics
from sports administration. He also commended the Hon. Minister of Sports,
Mallam Bolaji for providing necessary logistics and described the AFCON victory
as a plus for the Jonathan administration.
Comrade Ubon Marcus promised to discharge his duties
as vice president special duties effectively to the best of his abilities. He
promised to take NANS back to the campus and shared his strategy to achieve
this such as embarking on campus tour as well as holding students’ town hall
meetings in each visited campus as means of getting in touch with Nigerian
students so as to address their challenges.
He specifically expressed his gratitude to former
Speaker of Nigerian Youth Parliament and Member representing Nsit Ubium State
Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly – Hon. Onofiok Luke,
former NANS President and now Technical Assistant on MDGs – Comrade Iniobong
Ememobong, as well as the MDGs team for their support and encouragement.
PIX: Ubon Marcus
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