1st February, 2012
The Chief Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Dr. Abdurazak Balogun, has challenged members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, to conduct themselves in a manner that truly portrays them as students of higher institutions.
Balogun gave the advice when members of the association paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the Assembly complex, Alausa, Ikeja.
He advised members of the association to play an active role in nation building by not engaging in criminal activities that would tarnish the association’s image.
“I advise you to be worthy in character and academics which was the basis for graduating medical students in those days.
“For me, I sincerely believe that we are in the same age range, so your yearning and aspiration may not be totally different from mine.
“We went through a university/higher institution system that would produce men and women who are capable and competent to move our country forward or people that can represent Nigeria in any sphere of life.
“We don’t want a higher institution that is haven for miscreants and mediocre persons who after graduation are not worthy of the degrees awarded to them,” he said.
Reacting to the crisis in the state-owned university, LASU, arising from the increment in tuition, Balogun urged the NANS to look beyond the fees hike which he agrees must be reasonable, while the school management must also exhibit probity, transparency and accountability.
“How can we produce graduates who do not depict graduate qualities, and we complain that our graduates are being employed as drivers?
“For those of us who think deeply, we know that when you earn a degree in any higher institution, it is expected that you should be able to stand among your peers anywhere in the world,” he stated.
Earlier, the leader of the team, Mr. Aibana Adeyemi, stated that the Chief Whip was chosen because of his past relationship with youths and students, describing Balogun as one that could be trusted and relied upon in terms of advice and direction.
The General Secretary, Mr. Salami Hakeem, reminded the lawmaker that the NANS is an association which takes care of students’ welfare and other related issues.