19th February, 2023
Nigeria goes to presidential poll on Saturday, 25 February, 2023 to elect a president that will pilot the affairs of the nation in the next four years. Likewise, a two weeks after the presidential election, the governorship polls will be held across the nation.
In Lagos, students in about 10 tertiary institutions, such as the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State Polytechnic ( LASPOTECH), and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), among others, have rolled out the drums to garner support for the APC’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the re-election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The students kicked off their support with a mega rally at the Onikan Stadium, now known as Mobolaji Johnson Arena. Thousands of students thronged the venue for the rally late January to show that the students population in Lagos is in the kitty of Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu.
The stadium was a beehive of activities as students chanted and sang praises to Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu. It was a carnival-like atmosphere.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the event more electrified when he made a surprise appearance. The students were elated and they displayed their action with shouts of ‘aluta’ and singing the praises of the governor, who they believed has repositioned education in the state.
The students have a mission, which is to mobilise millions of its members in Lagos to vote for Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu.
At the rally, the National Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ishaq Giwa, presented certificate of endorsement to the governor, describing Sanwo-Olu as being super active in governance.
Giwa promised Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu that the students would often be available, to work with them so as to achieve their dream during the upcoming polls in the state.
“We are here to tell you that we are with you on this journey. Be rest assured that we will always be there for you anytime that you call on us”, he added.
The students, speaking through the Lagos NANS chairman, Tolulope Olusesi, said the priority accorded the tertiary education in Lagos by the Sanwo-Olu administration was unrivalled, describing the upgrade of former Lagos State Polytechnic and Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education as “top-notch”.
Adeoye Adelakun is the Students’ Union President of LASU. He said the tertiary education programmes and policies implemented by the governor were designed to support students’ academic aspiration.
Under the Sanwo-Olu administration, the LASU union president said the school had its standards raised and rose to become the best State-owned University in the country. He added that the governor complemented his support for LASU with the building of a magnificent students’ arcade for union activities.
Adelakun said the students resolved to reciprocate the governor’s gesture by giving him support for the second term, stressing that Sanwo-Olu’s re-election would further enhance education value in Lagos.
He said: “This endorsement rally is quite significant and it is different from what others have been doing. We are students and we are direct beneficiaries of Sanwo-Olu’s education programmes. We have seen the firsthand impacts of Mr. Governor’s policies and we are out here to appreciate these efforts.
“On behalf of Lagos State University students, I express our appreciation for making the school as the best State University in Nigeria. This is because of nothing but the academic standing of the school. We are also thankful for the gift of the students’ arcade, which is the best of its kind in Africa.”
Also, the Student Union leader for LASUED, Okechukwu Samuel, stated that the APC has made the state conducive for non-indigenes to achieve whatever they dreamt of, saying “I never believed that I could be leading a school in Lagos but here I am doing so. This indicates that the governor has made the state open for everyone irrespective of their ethnicity and status.”
Accepting the endorsement on behalf of himself and Tinubu, the governor described the students’ gesture as a morale booster in their ongoing campaign for the 2023 poll.
He recalled that during the last strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), none of the State’s tertiary institutions, as on strike.
The President of the National Union of Lagos State Students (NULASS), Shasanya Akinola stated that the rally was put together in appreciation of the contributions of Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu to the growth of education in Lagos State.
Akinola said the students were encouraged to drum support for the two principal contestants because of their previous antecedents.
He said Tinubu was the one who established local bursary and scholarship to support indigent students to realize their dream. He stated that Tinubu created different platforms for students to strive and achieve quality education.
Akinola added that Tinubu equally gave bursary to non-Indigenes to ensure they have access to education and that on the other hand, Sanwo-Olu raised the bar of education by driving quality education in accordance with SDG goal 4.
He said it was also remarkable to note how Sanwo-Olu evacuated stranded students of the University of Jos who are Lagos State origin or residence. He said he was optimistic that the issue of federal scholarship would be reviewed if Tinubu is elected.