The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Wednesday announced that it is keying into farming and entrepreneurial activities to tackle students unemployment in the country.
The association said the move is part of events lined up to celebrate its 40 years anniversary scheduled to hold on the 28th of April, 2022.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja, NANS President, Comrade Sunday Adedayo Asefon disclosed that this year’s celebration is unique because the association will use the occasion to institutionalise the economic empowerment of Nigerian students so as to contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product GDP, self sufficiency in food production and export of processed agricultural products.
The initiative according to NANS, will redirect talents and energies of Nigeria students especially in tertiary institutions away from internet fraud and many other criminal activities.
Some of the legacy projects to be executed by NANS to mark its 40th anniversary include; Establishment of mechanized farms in 36 states and FCT tagged “Operation school to farm” and the Construction of well-equipped incubation /skill acquisition centres in Abuja, Lagos and the six geopolitical zones in the country.
The student association also said it intend to negotiate with prominent domestic and international airlines, motor transport companies and Nigeria railway corporation to get rebate airfares and transport fares for Nigerian students at home and in diaspora for their travels within and outside the country.
Comrade Asefon while noting that Nigerian students have taken up the challenge to eradicate hunger, poverty, malnutrition and misery in Nigeria, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to support the association to achieve success.
The NANS President also appeal to “President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently order the Minister of Education, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Trade and Investment and other concerned Ministries and Agencies to work closely with NANS to bring the legacy projects to fruition.
“36 States Governors and FCT Minister to urgently provide arable land and mechanized farming equipment for the students ‘school to farm’ project.
“The president of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Aliyu Wabba, Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed and other Universities Vice – chancellors to also rally round NANS and support the legacy project”.
The further called for assistance from financial institutions, banks and other organised private sector to achieve the desired results.
