Vice President Kashim Shettima has asserted that Nigerian students need to play an active role in national decision-making, emphasizing that young citizens must be treated as essential partners in the nation’s current affairs rather than just its future.
Shettima said the Federal Government’s interventions in education, particularly the student loan programme and efforts to improve the welfare of academic staff, were aimed at keeping students in school, easing the financial burden on families and preventing recurrent strikes from disrupting academic activities.
The Vice President spoke on Wednesday while receiving a delegation of national student leaders from across the country at the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said Nigeria’s development could not be achieved without involving students in shaping policies that affect their lives and the country’s future.
“We do not need you for politics. We need you because you are the future of this country. What we have done differently is to give you a place in its present.
“There is no way to rebuild Nigeria without a place for the Nigerian student at the table where decisions are made,” he said.
Shettima added that President Bola Tinubu was determined to sustain a more stable academic calendar across the country’s tertiary institutions through reforms in education financing, improved student welfare and sustained engagement with lecturers.
He said the administration’s approach was designed to address challenges affecting access to education and ensure that disruptions to academic activities do not continue to undermine students’ .
What You Should Know
Vice President Kashim Shettima met with student leaders in Abuja to highlight the Federal Government’s commitment to youth inclusion in governance and educational reforms.
- Positive Impact: The ongoing student loan schemes and efforts to stabilize the academic calendar aim to keep youths in school and ease financial pressure on families.
- Potential Concerns: Continuous engagement with academic staff and student bodies remains crucial to prevent strikes and ensure lasting stability in tertiary institutions.
