The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Akwa Ibom State Government to intensify efforts in addressing infrastructure and welfare challenges affecting students in tertiary institutions across the state. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, August 11, 2025, in Uyo, representatives from NANS’ National Executive Committee, Zonal Executive Committee, and the Joint Campus Committee commended Governor Umo Eno for “unprecedented strides” in education but stressed that critical gaps remain.
The association lauded the administration’s establishment of model primary schools with free uniforms, bags, and shoes for pupils, as well as the N1 billion bursary scheme for tertiary students and the sponsorship of 39 students to the United Kingdom for an exchange programme. However, they called for the inclusion of student leaders in the bursary payment committee to improve communication with beneficiaries and urged that students from state-owned institutions, such as the Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing, be added to the bursary scheme.
On infrastructure, NANS appealed for improved facilities in tertiary institutions to foster a more conducive learning environment and requested a special “town square meeting” between the governor and students. They argued that such a forum, similar to those held with other groups, would enable open discussions on sensitive issues and fulfil Governor Eno’s campaign promise of quarterly engagements with students. The association also called for urgent employment and deployment of teachers to rural primary schools to sustain the model primary school initiative under the state’s ARISE policy.
NANS announced plans to lead over 1.1 million students in a solidarity walk to Government House, Uyo, on August 19, 2025, to present their demands directly to Governor Eno. They maintained that the requests, made in the spirit of partnership, were aimed at consolidating the governor’s educational achievements and advancing the future of Akwa Ibom students. The statement was jointly signed by Heritage Akan Emmanuel Akpan, NANS National Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of NANS Zone, and Emmanuel Peter, Chairman of NANS JCC Akwa Ibom State.