Don’t be intimidated, fight just causes with courage, Gani Adams urges NANS

The Aare onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams has urged the National Association of Nigerian Studentsto demonstrate courage in the pursuit of any just cause in the interest of all Nigerian students.

The Aare, who spoke at his Omole Phase 2 residence, in Ikeja, Lagos, while receiving the NANS’ South West Life Patron award, pointed out that the education sector was currently at the receiving end.

A statement by his spokesperson, Kehinde Aderemi, on Tuesday added that Adams said the prolonged strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities had resulted in increasing insecurity across the country.

The Yoruba generalissimo said past leaders of the union remained the symbol of the struggle, adding that youths were the leaders of tomorrow.

He said, “I was a beneficiary of the struggle of NANS heroes. I grew up to learn about students activism and struggle from past NANS President and leaders like Segun Mayeigun, Abiodun Kolawole and Femi Obayori.

“I have also benefitted from the struggle of legal luminaries and intellectuals like the late chief Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome Kuti, Femi Aborishasde, Femi Falana and Alao Aka Basorun. These are great men that taught us the way of the struggle and I am proud to be a product of that struggle.

Adams noted that the Federal Government played a major role in sinking the boat of the education sector, urged the students to remain committed to a brighter future, insisting that the hope of a great nation lies in the ability of every government to secure the future of the students through good education policy.

“It is unfortunate that anytime issues were raised about the Nigerian students, the Federal acted with impunity. As if students’ lives didn’t matter to the FG .It was not like that in the olden days.

“NANS represented hope and the future of a great nation but today, things have changed because Nigerian leaders and politicians have infiltrated them.

“Today Nigeria loses over $15bn to educational tourism abroad; It is sad.”

Earlier, the South West Coordinator of NANS, Adejuwon Olatunji, said the leadership of the union decided to confer the honour on the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land because of his contributions to the progress and development of the region.

He added that the conferment of the honour on Adams was to appreciate his courage as one of the heroes that the union looks up to for advice and support.

The NANS South West team that visited Adams include the Deputy Coordinator, Alao John; Public Relation Officer, Awoyinfa Opeoluwa; Olaide Ebenezer, Owoade Teslimot, Paul Efekulu, and Anuoluwa Eksu.