Ogun NANS Race: Koiki Promises Grassroots-Driven Student Leadership

An aspirant for the chairmanship of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Oreoluwa Koiki, has pledged to return the focus of student leadership to the campuses if elected.

Koiki made the declaration while addressing journalists, student leaders and other stakeholders, stressing that the student movement must reconnect with the realities and challenges facing students across tertiary institutions in the state.

According to him, many institutions in Ogun State are currently grappling with issues such as rising tuition fees, inadequate infrastructure, and concerns over student welfare and security. He argued that student representation has gradually drifted away from these core issues, leaving Students’ Union Governments (SUGs) to confront institutional challenges largely on their own.

The aspirant noted that this development has created what he described as a leadership gap within the student movement, as many student leaders are now more visible in broader political spaces than within the campuses they represent.

Koiki said his campaign is centred on establishing what he called “campus-based leadership,” a model that prioritises direct engagement with students and sustained presence across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the state.

He also outlined plans to strengthen collaboration among SUG leaders across Ogun institutions, arguing that a unified approach would enable students to respond collectively to challenges affecting campuses across the state.

“When one campus faces pressure, the entire state must stand together,” Koiki said, adding that his leadership style would promote solidarity and coordinated advocacy among students.

The aspirant further promised to adopt what he termed “intellectual diplomacy” in engagements with school managements and government authorities, emphasising dialogue, policy-based advocacy and constructive engagement to advance the interests of students.

Koiki maintained that his ambition is driven by the need to restore relevance to grassroots student structures and ensure that the voice of students remains central to the activities of the association.