Student leaders from tertiary institutions across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory have declared their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The students made their position known during the launch of the A4A Students’ Wing, a platform established to connect student leaders across tertiary institutions in the North and promote leadership, communication, civic awareness and youth participation in politics.
Speaking at the launch, the President of the Students’ Union Government of Bayero University Kano and Coordinator of the A4A Students’ Wing, Comrade Abdulmudallib Kalli Sheriff, said the students’ support for Tinubu was intended to extend beyond the launch of the platform.
Sheriff said the group would establish a network capable of communicating government programmes and policies, including the Renewed Hope Agenda, to students across tertiary institutions in the region.
He said students should move beyond being passive observers of political developments and participate actively in discussions and processes shaping the country’s future.
Sheriff cited programmes including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), tertiary education infrastructure projects, digital technology initiatives, transportation and youth empowerment programmes as areas he said had created opportunities for students.
He particularly highlighted NELFUND, saying the student loan scheme had helped reduce financial pressure on students from families facing difficulties meeting educational expenses.
Also speaking, the Director-General of A4A and former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, described students as an important constituency in the political future of the North.
Badaru said the organisation’s engagement with young people should be based on government programmes and measurable interventions rather than political promises alone.
He cited NELFUND as one of the initiatives, claiming that more than 1.5 million students had benefited from funding exceeding N282 billion.
He also referenced TETFund-supported projects in universities and other tertiary institutions across the North, including ICT centres, student accommodation, laboratories, teaching facilities and Computer-Based Test centres.
Badaru further mentioned the Energising Education Programme (EEP), which he said had provided 36.2 megawatts of solar power to seven universities in northern Nigeria.
Other programmes highlighted included the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT), the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme and the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), which he presented as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to invest in education, youth skills and employment opportunities.
The student leaders said the A4A Students’ Wing would provide a platform for connecting students across institutions, increasing awareness of national issues and encouraging structured participation in political and civic activities.
Tags
Politics