FG determined to rescue kidnapped medical students — Presidential aide

The Senior Special Assistant on Students’ Engagements to the President, Hon Sunday Ashefon, has assured students that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will take the necessary steps to address the increasing insecurity of students and the rising number of out-of-school children in the country.

The presidential aide stated this against the backdrop of the recent abduction of about 20 medical students who were travelling to Enugu State through Otukpo Local Government Area in Benue when they encountered bandits.

Asefon said Tinubu is committed to rescuing the medical students and tackling the issue of out-of-school children roaming the streets.

Asefon gave the assurance on Monday in Ado Ekiti at the commencement of a two-day leadership training organised by his office for students’ union leaders in the southwest region, with the theme: “Building Responsible Leaders for National Development.”

Asefon asserted that the training aims to equip student leaders with the necessary skills to manage conflicts with school management, ensuring steady, unhindered, and progressive school calendars.

The Presidential aide added that Tinubu, as a student- and youth-friendly leader, is determined to hand over power to the younger generation, stressing the importance of training future leaders in leadership skills to ensure a prosperous and flourishing future for the nation.

He described Tinubu as the most committed leader in Nigerian history regarding investments in the education system. Asefon hailed the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), codenamed Students’ Loan, as a game-changer that will reduce school dropouts due to financial challenges.

“President Tinubu promised to end the frequent strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and he has made progress by paying their nine-month withheld salaries and removing them from the IPPIS payroll, which has helped settle their grievances.

“During the tenures of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, ASUU strikes were frequent. Not a single year passed without all the unions in universities going on strike. But President Tinubu has spent one year and three months in office without any national strike.

“The NELFUND seemed impossible initially, but students from poor backgrounds now have access to funds in federal and state tertiary institutions. Let me assure you that the increasing rate of out-of-school children and unrest on campuses will be eliminated under the current government.”

On the purpose of the training, Asefon said it was conceptualised to promote dialogue between student leadership and management, fostering relationships that will enhance learning and academic standards on campuses.

Asefon commended students across the country for avoiding the #EndBadGovernance protests, which he said ended in crisis and failure. He noted that this demonstrated respect and a vote of confidence in President Tinubu and his leadership.