NANS URGES FG TO CARRY STUDENTS ALONG IN SPORTING ACTIVITIES AS A WAY OF CURBING NATIONAL INSECURITY

The Leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has reiterated the commitment of the association to continue to remain in the fore front of the advocacy for democracy, good governance and issues bothering on national development.
In a statement jointly signed by the Coordinator, NANS Zone C Comrade Abah Owoicho and Comrade Umar Farouk and made available to this medium following a PRESS BRIEFING OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS (NANS) HELD ON THE 21ST OF OCTOBER 2021, the association stressed that with a membership strength of over one hundred million students, NANS remains one of the most viable instrument for the drive for social change and progress.

The association noted that it was no longer news that Nigeria is currently facing challenges of insecurity and youth restiveness, stressing that the two are inseparable monsters facing the country currently as they spring from same pit of unemployment. The association noted that lack of tolerance and the failure of past leaders to adequately plan towards youth empowerment and wealth creation have accounted for the continuous subsistence of these menace, stressing that these menaces did not single out students for exemption as many students have lost their lives and valuables even in very recent time.

The association further noted that sport remains one of the most powerful tool for national unity and empowerment for Nigerian youths and students hence the need to leverage on sports. The association however expressed concern over the ongoing imbroglio in the Nigerian Basket Ball Federation where according them was an attempt to frustrate the current drive for transition. The association noted that Information available from their findings shows that the current process set in place by the leadership of NBBF draws life from the constitution of the federation which was approved by FIBA in 2019, stressing that they had it on goodd record that the ongoing process was approved by a congress comprising thirty six states of the federation.
The association called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency take immediate action on the following;

1. That the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development should ensure that all sporting associations in Nigeria consider students as major stakeholder in the country.
2. That in compliance with the integrity posture of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration, the provision constitution of NBBF be adhered to and the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports should play its observatory role as enshrined in NBBF constitution and resist all temptation to box and gag the federation towards the interest of any person or group of persons.
3. That the venue of the agreed upon by congress remains sacrosanct as it within the constitutional power of the congress to take that decision.
   4.That the federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development should carefully look at ways of using sports to curb the menace of insecurity especially on our campuses.
   The full text is presented as received;
   BEING A TEXT OF PRESS BRIEFING OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS (NANS) HELD ON THE 21ST OF OCTOBER 2021 IN ABUJA.

Gentle Men of the press.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is the umbrella body of all Nigerian students domiciled at home and in diaspora. The association has its core mandate; the identification, articulation and protection of the interests of Nigerian students both in national and international matters.

It is on record that over the years NANS has been in the fore front in the advocacy for democracy, good governance and issues bothering on national development. With a membership strength of over one hundred million NANS remains one of the most viable instrument for the drive for social change and progress.

It is no longer news that Nigeria is currently facing challenges of insecurity and youth restiveness, the two are inseparable monsters facing the currently as they spring from same pits unemployment, lack of tolerance and the failure of past leaders to adequately plan towards youth empowerment and wealth creation. This menace did not single out students for exemption as many of our students have lost their lives and valuables even in very recent time.

It is not in doubt that sport remains one of the most powerful tool for unification and national and empowerment for young Nigerians with students as no exception. Consequently it’s become imperative for the association to have interest in sport development in the country.

Recently the attention of NANS and indeed lovers of sport in Nigeria was drawn to the ongoing imbroglio in one of our sporting federation; Nigerian Basket Ball Federation where there is an attempt to frustrate the current drive for transition. Information available from our findings shows that the current process set in place by the leadership of NBBF is draws life from the constitution of the federation which was approved by FIBA in 2019. We also have on good record that the ongoing process was approved by a congress comprising thirty six states of the federation.

It on the strength of the foregoing that we demand;
1 That the Federal Ministry of Sports and youth Development, Nigerian Basket Ball Federation and all sporting association in Nigeria begin to consider the students community as a major stakeholder in the country.

2. That in compliance with the integrity posture of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration, the provision constitution of NBBF be adhered to and the Federal ministry of sports plays its observatory role as enshrined in NBBF constitution and resist all temptation to box and gag the federation towards the interest of any person or group of persons.
3. That the venue of the venue agreed upon by congress remains sacrosanct as it within the constitutional power of the congress to take that decision.
   4.The federal ministry of sports carefully look at ways of using sports to curb the menace of insecurity especially on our campuses.
   While we are not in doubt of the willingness of the ministry of sport to and youth development to meet this demands let it known that we are keenly watching.

Abah Owoicho Umar Farouk.
Cordinator NANS Zone C

count | 26

NANS Urges FG to Carry Students Along in Sporting Activities to Help Curb Insecurity