The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has called on the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and other student leaders across the country to mobilise at least 10 million student votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Alausa made the call in Abuja when the leadership of NANS and other student associations paid him a familiarisation visit, stressing that Nigerian students had a major stake in the outcome of the 2027 elections because the policies and reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration would have a direct impact on their education, skills development, employment opportunities and future prospects.

The Minister argued that continuity was necessary to sustain what he described as the gains recorded by the administration in student financing, technical and vocational education, infrastructure, entrepreneurship and access to tertiary education.

According to him, President Tinubu has demonstrated a strong commitment to young Nigerians through interventions that go beyond the traditional provision of classrooms and academic facilities to address student welfare, accommodation, transportation, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and campus infrastructure.

Alausa identified the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of the administration’s major interventions, noting that about N200 billion had been committed to the scheme, with more than 1.6 million students benefiting.

He said recent directives by the President to explore additional sources of funding would further strengthen NELFUND and ensure the sustainability of the programme, including the monthly upkeep allowance being received by beneficiaries.

The Minister also disclosed that more than N200 billion had been committed to expanding student accommodation, while over N150 billion had been invested in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) infrastructure.

He further highlighted the Student Venture Capital Grant, saying the initiative was designed to help students transform innovative ideas into viable businesses and become job creators rather than job seekers.

Alausa said the government was considering increasing the grant ceiling in the next phase of the programme to enable more young Nigerians to develop commercially viable innovations.

On campus infrastructure and welfare, the Minister said the government was expanding renewable energy projects across federal tertiary institutions to provide more reliable electricity for laboratories, workshops, libraries and hostels.

He added that additional tricycles would be deployed to campuses to ease transportation difficulties faced by students.

The Minister also said the Federal Government was maintaining engagement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to promote industrial harmony and protect the academic calendar.

He reiterated the administration’s commitment to ensuring that a four-year university programme takes four years to complete.

Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Comrade Sunday Asefon, said the visit was aimed at strengthening communication and collaboration among the Presidency, the Ministry of Education and the organised student community.

Asefon commended NANS and other student leaders for their advocacy on student welfare, stressing that their partnership with government remained important in identifying challenges confronting students and developing practical solutions.

In his remarks, the President of NANS, Comrade Babatunde Afeez Akinteye, commended President Tinubu and Minister Alausa for interventions such as NELFUND and TVET.

Akinteye said the student loan programme had significantly improved the lives of beneficiaries, particularly through the monthly upkeep allowance, which he described as an important relief for students experiencing financial difficulties.

The NANS president, however, raised concerns over the Federal Scholarship Awards, illegal admissions and accreditation challenges affecting students in some tertiary institutions.

He urged the government to strengthen regulatory measures against institutions admitting students into programmes that lack the required approval or capacity, warning that students should not be left stranded after spending years pursuing unapproved programmes.

Responding, Alausa assured the student leaders that the concerns raised were receiving the attention of the Ministry.

He said the government was working to resolve funding challenges affecting the Federal Scholarship Awards, strengthen admission processes and conduct a comprehensive review of the accreditation system.

The Minister stressed that students must not be admitted into programmes that have not received the necessary approval or be left without recognised qualifications after years of study.

He said relevant agencies and stakeholders were being mobilised to implement corrective measures without unnecessary delay.

Alausa assured NANS and other student organisations that the Ministry would maintain an open channel of communication with student leaders and continue to respond to issues affecting their education and welfare.

He said the Federal Government would remain focused on advancing President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in education, adding that continued investment in education, skills development and youth empowerment was essential to creating opportunities for young Nigerians and driving national development.