(NANS President, Babatunde Akinteye. Photo Credit: Antho News NG)
The National Association of Nigerian Students has launched a new initiative, the Constituency Scholarship and Talent Development Scheme, aimed at expanding access to education, mentorship, and international exposure for Nigerian students.
The association, in a statement issued in Lokoja on Monday, said the programme would provide scholarships and talent development opportunities through strategic partnerships with members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
NANS President Babatunde Akinteye described the scheme as a significant step towards bridging the gap between Nigerian students and access to quality education and global opportunities, stressing that it was designed to create sustainable pathways for academic and career advancement rather than merely awarding scholarships.
“This initiative is a major step forward in ensuring that Nigerian students are not limited by geography or financial constraints. It is not just about awarding scholarships, but about creating pathways for long-term academic and career success,” he said.
The Director of International Projects and Partnerships, Comrade Abraham Adewoye, said the programme would leverage partnerships across the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe to connect Nigerian students with the global academic community, and assured that no region of the country would be excluded from its benefits.
According to NANS, the scheme will focus on three major areas: scholarship support for students across constituencies, international academic exposure programmes, and mentorship and skills development initiatives.
Each participating constituency is expected to support between 20 and 30 students annually, with at least 10 beneficiaries having access to international exposure programmes.
The association called on senators, members of the House of Representatives, and state lawmakers to adopt the initiative as part of their constituency development programmes, noting that the scheme aligns with existing funding mechanisms including constituency project allocations, education intervention funds, and youth empowerment budgets.
NANS, which represents more than 50 million Nigerian students in tertiary institutions within the country and in the diaspora, said the initiative underscores its commitment to promoting student welfare and advancing educational development across Nigeria.