Katsina Students Embrace Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda As Presidential Aide Asefon Mobilises Youths for Re-election

_...Hon Sunday Asefon hails warm reception, highlights ₦372.62bn NELFUND disbursement, academic stability, TVET and digital opportunities_

By Ogene Romanus Chizoba

The nationwide state-to-state student engagement initiative championed by the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Student Engagement, Comr. Sunday Asefon Dayo, is gaining momentum, following the successful Katsina State engagement, where students and youth leaders were urged to embrace the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and support the President’s re-election bid in 2027.

The engagement, held under the Renewed Hope Student Leaders Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme, provided a platform for the presidential aide to showcase the achievements, policies and development initiatives of the Tinubu administration, particularly in education, student financing, skills acquisition, digital innovation and youth empowerment.

Asefon expressed appreciation to students and youth communities in Katsina State for the warm reception, solidarity and support accorded the presidential delegation, describing their response as encouraging to the ongoing nationwide effort to strengthen the relationship between the Federal Government and Nigerian students.

“Katsina State, thank you!” he declared, reaffirming his commitment to taking the administration’s policies and achievements directly to campuses and student communities across the country.

The Katsina visit represents another milestone in the ongoing state-to-state outreach, which seeks to deepen students’ understanding of government interventions, encourage constructive engagement with public policies and position young Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities created by the administration.

Beyond policy awareness, Asefon urged student leaders to mobilise their colleagues for active participation in the 2027 general elections and support President Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that continuity would enable the administration to consolidate its education reforms and sustain programmes designed to improve students’ welfare and future prospects.

He maintained that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated its commitment to expanding access to education, reducing financial barriers, promoting academic stability and equipping young Nigerians with practical and digital skills for an increasingly competitive global economy.

Highlighting the impact of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Asefon disclosed that the scheme had disbursed ₦372.62 billion in student loans as of early October 2026.

The amount comprised ₦192.89 billion for institutional fees and ₦179.73 billion for students’ upkeep allowances, representing a major intervention aimed at easing the financial burden of tertiary education on students and their families.

According to him, the student loan initiative is helping eligible Nigerians, particularly those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, pursue their academic ambitions without being compelled to abandon their education because of financial difficulties.

He described NELFUND as an important component of the administration’s education reforms, stressing that financial circumstances should not determine whether a qualified Nigerian student has the opportunity to acquire higher education.

The presidential aide encouraged student leaders to ensure that their colleagues were adequately informed about NELFUND and other available government support programmes so that eligible beneficiaries could access the opportunities provided.

Asefon also highlighted efforts by the Federal Government to promote stability in the university academic calendar through sustained engagement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions.

He said dialogue and efforts to address industrial disputes had helped create a more predictable academic environment, reducing disruptions that had historically delayed students’ graduation and affected their career plans.

“For too long, students lost valuable months and years because of prolonged industrial disputes. Today, we are witnessing a new era of academic stability, with three years of uninterrupted academic calendars,” he said.

He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring that students complete their programmes within the stipulated periods.

“Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are committed to ensuring that a four-year programme takes four years and a five-year programme takes five years. That is what our students deserve,” he added.

Asefon noted that academic stability was essential to improving the quality of university education, restoring students’ confidence and enabling young graduates to transition into employment and other productive ventures without unnecessary delays.

On skills acquisition and economic empowerment, the presidential aide disclosed that more than 250,000 Nigerians were undergoing training at over 1,200 accredited centres nationwide under the Federal Government’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiative.

He said the programme, championed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, was designed to equip young Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant skills for employment, entrepreneurship and economic self-reliance.

According to Asefon, education must go beyond obtaining academic certificates to include innovation, productivity, entrepreneurship and the ability to earn a sustainable livelihood.

He encouraged students who might not follow the conventional university pathway to explore technical and vocational education, describing it as a viable route to economic independence and meaningful participation in national development.

He further urged young Nigerians to embrace digital literacy, artificial intelligence, technology and innovation, noting that these areas offer growing opportunities for employment, enterprise development and participation in the global digital economy.

Asefon charged student leaders to serve as effective links between the government and their colleagues by providing accurate information about student loans, scholarships, internships, fellowships, vocational training and other opportunities available to young Nigerians.

He also encouraged them to communicate students’ concerns constructively, provide feedback on government policies and use digital platforms to discover opportunities and develop solutions to challenges within their communities.

“The responsibility of government is to create an enabling environment, provide opportunities and support citizens to succeed. Your responsibility is to recognise those opportunities, acquire the necessary skills and use them to transform your life and your community,” he said.

He stressed that the engagement initiative was not merely about communicating government achievements but also about creating opportunities for meaningful interaction between policymakers and the student population.

According to him, the administration recognises students as important stakeholders in national development and is committed to ensuring that their concerns, aspirations and contributions remain central to government engagement.

The programme is therefore designed to strengthen dialogue, promote responsible leadership, encourage patriotism and unity, and prepare young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to the country's social and economic transformation.

The successful Katsina engagement has further reinforced the importance of the state-to-state initiative as the presidential aide continues to engage student leaders, youth organisations and campus communities across the country.

Through the ongoing visits, Asefon is seeking to build stronger relationships between the Tinubu administration and the student constituency while ensuring that young Nigerians have a clearer understanding of government policies and the opportunities available to them.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement to sustaining the nationwide outreach and ensuring that students’ voices are heard in conversations about education, employment, skills development and the future of Nigeria.

The initiative also seeks to encourage students to participate responsibly in civic and democratic processes, including the 2027 general elections.

Asefon urged the Katsina students to support President Tinubu’s re-election, maintaining that a renewed mandate would provide an opportunity to sustain the administration’s ongoing education reforms, student-support interventions and youth development programmes.

Reiterating the political message behind the mobilisation, he declared: “Together, we remain committed to the Renewed Hope Agenda and a brighter future for Nigerian students.”

He concluded with the rallying calls, **“Renewed Hope 2.0”** and **“Asiwaju Till 2031,”** reaffirming his support for the President’s agenda and his determination to sustain engagement with students and young Nigerians nationwide.

As the state-to-state engagements continue, the initiative is expected to remain a platform for policy awareness, youth mobilisation, constructive dialogue and stronger connections between the Federal Government and Nigeria’s student community, with Katsina marking another significant step in the nationwide outreach.