NAPS President Pledges Reforms, Hails Tinubu’s Support

Comrade Eshiofune Paul Oghayan, the newly inaugurated National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) president, has pledged sweeping reforms focused on student welfare, industry collaboration, and policy advocacy.

He made the remarks during his inauguration ceremony, which also saw the presence of key student leaders, including the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Olushola Oladoja.

Comrade Oghayan outlined a seven-point agenda to transform Nigeria‘s polytechnic education landscape. “Our mission is clear. We will close the gap between the classroom and the boardroom. Every student must graduate with a skill, not just a certificate,” he said.

He vowed to engage stakeholders like the Industrial Training Fund and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria to ensure that engineering students are deployed to relevant industries rather than unrelated sectors for their practical training.

Quoting Chinua Achebe, Oghayan said: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply a failure of leadership. We must lead in a new direction. We are not beggars for employment but creators of opportunities.”

He pledged to push for policy reforms, including resolving the long-standing dichotomy between HND and BSc holders.

“Let it be known, the era of silence has ended. When policies haunt us, we raise our voices, not in bitterness but in boldness,” he declared.

Speaking on student empowerment, Oghayan highlighted plans to partner with development institutions like NELFUND to include polytechnic students in national loan and grant initiatives.

He also promised to implement student insurance schemes, as he had done in his previous role as SUG President.

“We are launching a digital-first movement within the polytechnic sector,” he added, promising to use technology and data-driven platforms to assist final-year students with innovative project support.

In his remarks, NANS President Olushola Oladoja praised President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the education sector, noting several milestones.

“This is the first time a president has deployed over N3 billion into education, introduced a national student loan scheme, and initiated the distribution of CNG buses to campuses across Nigeria,” Oladoja said.

He gave the Tinubu administration a ‚B‘ rating in the area of student empowerment, saying, “Even though we haven’t gotten it all, the effort is visible. One of the buses brought me and my executive here today.”

Meanwhile, Barrister Pelumi, a guest at the event, addressed concerns about political influence in student unionism.

“All human beings are political. Students having political leanings don’t negate their values. What matters is that they don’t lose sight of their core responsibility—protecting the interest of students,” he said.

The inauguration marked a pivotal moment for student leadership in Nigeria’s polytechnic system, with renewed commitment to bridging education with innovation, policy engagement, and national development.