Presidency restates Tinubu’s commitment to educational development, students’ welfare

…rewards outstanding students on International Students Day

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Engagement, Hon. Sunday Asefon, has reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to educational development and the welfare of students, stating that this informed the creation of the Nigerian Student Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has disbursed over N120 billion to beneficiaries to date.

Asefon stated this at a ceremony on Wednesday in Abuja, marking the 2025 International Students’ Day Celebration with the theme, “Celebrating and Rewarding Academic Excellence: A Key to Unlocking Latent Potentials for Sustainable Development”.

The event, which brought together students from universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, secondary schools, and the Nigerian Law School, witnessed the presentation of various categories of awards to top-performing students across Nigeria. The awardees smiled home with cash prizes and laptops, and scholarships.

Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, Hon. Comrade Sunday Asefon, emphasised the transformative power of education in nation-building.

He said, “Every great society is built on the brilliance, diligence, and imagination of its young people. Today, we proudly honour the best graduating students from our universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and the Nigerian Law School.

“These exceptional achievers will receive scholarships, laptops, cash awards, and other empowerment tools to support their future endeavours.”

He said the initiative also recognised outstanding secondary school students, each receiving a N100,000 cash prize as motivation to continue striving for academic distinction.

“This initiative is fully aligned with the vision and commitment of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has consistently demonstrated unwavering support for education and the success of Nigerian students.

“The President believes, and we affirm today, that our students are not just leaders of tomorrow, but contributors to national development today. When we reward academic excellence, we are investing in Nigeria’s future.

“To all the awardees: your outstanding performances have distinguished you. You represent the best of our educational institutions, and we are proud of your achievements. I encourage you to continue leading with integrity, innovation, and a sense of responsibility to your communities and the nation at large,” he said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described the celebration as a moment to recognise the relentless pursuit of knowledge, the late nights of study, and the unwavering determination that has brought these young minds to this pivotal moment.

The Minister, who was represented by Dr David Atuwo, Special Assistant on Technical Matters to the Minister of Education, noted the role of technology and scholarship in shaping future leaders.

He said, “In the 61 graduating students receiving laptops today, we see the tech innovators and digital leaders of tomorrow.

“Among the 29 recipients of the MSc Scholarship Awards, we see future professors, researchers, and policy architects who will drive national development.”

The Minister of State, Ministry of Finance, Dr Doris Usoka-Anite, spoke of the collective responsibility of society to safeguard students’ welfare.

She reassured attendees that the government would continue to ensure funding for education, teachers’ salaries, school feeding programmes, and safe learning environments through initiatives such as the Safe School Initiative.

“The youth of this country are a collective responsibility of everyone, not just the Student Union or the Ministry of Education. The brilliance, resilience, and creativity of our students are central to building Nigeria’s leadership, talent, and intellectual resources.

“Today, we celebrate more than just high grades. We celebrate the future of Nigeria. In the 61 graduating students receiving laptops today, we see the tech innovators and digital leaders of tomorrow.

“In the 29 recipients of the MSc Scholarship Awards, we see future professors, researchers, and policy architects who will drive our national development. And in the exceptional secondary school students being honoured with cash prizes, we see the building geniuses whose potential is truly limitless.

“This celebration is a powerful testament to our collective commitment as a government and as a people to nurturing the intellectual capital of our nation. Investing in education is the most strategic investment we can make for a prosperous, secure, and enlightened Nigeria. To all the awardees, I say, let this achievement be a stepping stone, not a destination,” she added.

Usoka-Anite urged students to remain focused despite the distractions of social media and other pursuits.

“Whatever talent you have, excel at it fully. Whether in academics, sports, music, or domestic skills, give your best and let the world recognise your efforts,” she said.

Postgraduate scholarship awards were presented to the overall best graduating students across the six geopolitical zones, including Federal University Dutsin-Ma in the North West, Prince Abubakar Audu University in the North Central, Olabisi Onabanjo University in the South West, Rivers State University in the South South, Federal University of Technology Owerri in the South East, and Federal University Wukari in the North East.

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