The Presidency has declared that the era of prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which repeatedly disrupted academic activities in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, is over.

The declaration was made during the North Central Zonal edition of the Renewed Hope Student Leaders Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme held at the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State during the weekend.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, who addressed more than 1,000 student leaders drawn from the seven states of the North Central zone, said Nigerian universities has recorded three years of uninterrupted academic activities under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The gathering was attended by executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), National Association of University Students (NAUS), Students’ Union Government (SUG) presidents and Joint Campus Committee (JCC) chairmen, among others.

Recalling his experience as NANS president in 2020/2021, the presidential aide said students at the time were forced to embark on protests over prolonged university closures caused by industrial disputes.

“I remember vividly in 2020/2021 when I was President of NANS. In 2021, I led a huge protest against the then Honourable Minister of Education when our schools and campuses were closed,” he said.

He, however, said the situation has changed under the Tinubu administration, noting that universities and other tertiary institutions had now enjoyed three consecutive years of uninterrupted academic calendars.

“But today, our universities, our tertiary institutions are now celebrating three years uninterrupted academic calendar because of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

According to him, the resolution of longstanding issues between the Federal Government and ASUU represented a significant step towards ending the cycle of prolonged strikes that had disrupted students’ education for decades.

The presidential aide said Tinubu’s administration considers education a critical instrument for national development and has made access, stability and improved opportunities for students key components of its Renewed Hope Agenda.

Beyond academic stability, he said the administration was focused on preparing Nigerian students for the rapidly changing global economy through digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship.

“The digital revolution has transformed the world. As such, Nigerians must not be left behind,” he said.

He identified artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, software development and digital marketing, among other emerging technologies, as areas with significant opportunities for young Nigerians.

He urged students to move beyond being consumers of technology and become creators of digital solutions and opportunities.

“We want every Nigerian student to become a creator of opportunities, not just a seeker of opportunities,” he said.

The presidential aide said the student engagement programme was designed to strengthen communication between government and students while exposing young Nigerians to practical digital skills, leadership development, entrepreneurship and innovation.

He disclosed that the initiative, which had previously been held in the South-South, would be extended to other geopolitical zones in the coming weeks.

He described the zonal engagements as part of efforts to make students active partners in nation-building and ensure that government policies and opportunities reach them directly.

He also charged student leaders to use their positions to promote peace, integrity, dialogue and academic excellence on their campuses.

“As student leaders, your responsibility goes beyond representation. You must promote excellence, uphold integrity, encourage dialogue, and foster peaceful coexistence within your institutions and communities,” he said.

The event was attended by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth Development, Federal University of Lafia, University of Abuja, Federal University Lokoja, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), as well as student leaders and university officials from across the North Central zone.

The presidential aide reaffirmed the commitment of his office to sustained engagement with Nigerian students, saying the objective was to empower them academically, economically and socially.

He called on participants to leverage the opportunities provided by the programme to become digitally skilled, innovative and responsible leaders capable of contributing to Nigeria’s development. (Nigerian Tribune)