NANS aspirant Awoyinfa Opeoluwa pledges student‑centred, unitary leadership

Abuja—A PhD student and former Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Zone D, Awoyinfa Opeoluwa, has pledged a student‑centred, unitary leadership model if elected president of NANS at the upcoming national convention.

Known popularly as OPIANO, Opeoluwa on Saturday in Abuja successfully cleared the mandatory screening exercise conducted by the Independent Convention Planning Committee (ICPC) ahead of the 2026 NANS convention, positioning him as one of the key contenders for the presidency.

Appearing before the Screening and Verification Sub‑committee at the event in the capital, the aspirant presented his credentials and reaffirmed his eligibility for the race, insisting that the outcome marks a significant step toward the “liberation and revitalisation” of the student association.

“This is not just a personal victory; it is a crucial milestone in the re‑engineering of NANS into a more responsive, inclusive and student‑driven organisation,” he told reporters after the exercise.​

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Opeoluwa, who is campaigning under the IMPACT Movement with the slogan “Vox Populi, Vox Dei” (the voice of the people is the voice of God), detailed his agenda for the student body, emphasising national unity, internal reconciliation, and aggressive welfare advocacy.

“We will end factionalism by restoring unity and independence to the student body,” he declared. “Our leadership will be inclusive and student‑centred, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued in the decision‑making process.”

A key pillar of his proposed administration is a sustained push against recurrent tuition hikes and deteriorating campus living conditions. He pledged to work directly with Student Union Government (SUG) presidents across tertiary institutions to strengthen collective bargaining and improve access to quality education.

“We will prioritise welfare advocacy by tackling tuition hikes and improving campus living conditions through direct collaboration with SUG presidents,” he said, referencing the need for a more organic and grassroots‑driven student movement.

Opeoluwa, who previously served as Public Relations Officer of NANS Zone D, argued that his background in active student unionism has equipped him with practical insights into the challenges confronting Nigerian students, from accommodation deficits and poor infrastructure to limited access to scholarships and federal‑level policy influence.

The upcoming NANS national convention is scheduled to hold between May 20 and May 27, 2026, with the presidential election expected to produce a new leadership for the pan‑Nigerian student body. As the ICPC continues to screen aspirants, Opeoluwa’s clearance has placed him among the frontline candidates vying to lead the association into a more cohesive and welfare‑anchored phase.