NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN: UNDERGRADUATE OF UNIMAID, IBRAHIM MAKINTA DECLARES ASPIRATION TOWARDS UPCOMING NANS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Comr Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta, an undergraduate of Department of Computer Engineering, University of Maiduguri has officially declare his aspiration towards the upcoming National Association of Nigerian Students NANS today while addressing his hardened loyalist and supporters. 

According to Ibrahim Makinta,The Vice Chancellor, Prof Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, ably represented by the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Ahmed Umar. The President Students’ Union Government, Comr Allamin Kamsalem and members of his Executive Council here present. The Zonal Treasurer of NANS , who doubles as leader of the organization in the state, Comr. Suleiman Sarki. The Joint Campus Committee Chairman of Borno/Yobe axis and his Team, other SUG Presidents here  present, members of my campaign team as  lead by the immediate past Coordinator of NANS Zone C, Comr Habib Salau Enesi, all past and present leaders of NANS, my most priced assets - the great Nigerian students, members of the fourth estate of the realm. I greet you all  in the spirit of this noble struggle.

Today, I shall be making history as the youngest student since inception of NANS to declare interest in its most revered seat, the Presidency. This I do with the highest sense of responsibility, uncommon resolve and divine confidence.

I have heard my leaders, mentors and stakeholders of this great organization throw their weight behind the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill to allow for more young people to participate in governance. Our call would be incomplete if charity does not begin at home, from our dear NANS. Hence, our advocacy for the NotTooYoungToRun Bill should as a matter of fact be  demonstrated in the upcoming NANS Convention. 

I am a bonafide student who has availed himself to serve genuine Nigerian students, to reinvent the Aluta spirit of the Okeowo and Osakaide days. I have come to return NANS to its original owners, the young undergraduates on campuses, who directly feel the pains and rigors of bad policies. I'm talking of those who are confronted by vices that have bedeviled our campuses, those whose destinies have been altered by incessant strike actions and their sexually harassed counterparts.

I declare today from my ivory tower, the prestigious University of Maiduguri which sits in the epicenter of insurgency, Maiduguri, and despite this, remains undeterred, resilient and committed to raising human resources that would better humanity. I pledge this day to bring the UNIMAID spirit to NANS when elected. The spirit of "unity and all-inclusive leadership policy." 

I present to you all today, "The 2018 Repositioning Agenda of NANS" as initiated and crafted in my noble aspiration for the most exalted seat in NANS, which is invariably geared towards a formidable recourse of this great  organization of ours.  It's my belief that NANS needs a repositioning; and this I have set to achieve, with your respective supports and that of our respected stakeholders who are also advocates of a better NANS.

I declare today with the unalloyed support and solidarity of my constituency’s ledadership at both management and student levels. It's a declaration of preparedness, courage and a rare passion for service. 

I have stepped forward to champion the journey of returning NANS to its glorious days, to restore its pedigree in the comity of unions in the sub-saharan African space and to uphold her colossal dignity on the  global radar.

I have come to institute and concretize true mentorship in NANS, which is lacking at the moment. Our stakeholders who are proven reservoirs of knowledge, experience and champions of innovation must begin to mentor us rather than contest office with us. 

I have come to lead the journey to involve Nigerian students in decision making by advocating that all Governing Councils of tertiary institutions appointed by the governments must have at least one(1) youth (an ex-students’ leader) in them. Thus, all decisions concerning us must be made with us. We have outstanding comrades who have proven themselves in different fields, and are equipped with the capacity, vigour and readiness for such tasks. Apparently, their inputs in this regard would not only make a clear difference but would also revitalize the powers of students in such decision making bodies. The Phillip Shuaibus, Tony Nwoyes, Jude Imagwes, Babales, just to mention but a few are some of the names to reckon with in this regard.

I have come to give young comrades a sense of belonging in this great organization. I represent the true spirit of the upcoming generation, the hope of #NotTooYoungToRun , the rebirth of NANS and beckon of a paradigm shift.

In this journey, the labour of our heroes past would not be in vain. We shall immortalize our fallen heroes in accordance with the  precepts of NANS and celebrate the living in a distinguished manner that would encourage sincere and patriotic participation in the affairs of NANS.

Most importantly, we shall constitute an all-inclusive and a high-powered committee to troubleshoot and find lasting solutions to the continuous hike in school charges, under-funding of our  ivory towers, lingering industrial disputes, social vices and sexual harassment.

I am a young listener, a willing and fast learner, an epitome of young and ambitious student who has a feasible master-plan that would reassert the dwindling capacity of NANS and reverberate the echoes of its vitality at both the students' level and the national echelon of our dear nation, Nigeria. Currently, young people are gradually taking over  leadership sway; thereby changing the obsolete narrative of the old folks in different countries in the world. Nigeria as a country shouldn't be left aside in this historic trend of the modern world and NANS should be a starting point of its practicality.  In the words of Benjamin Franklin “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn." It's time to involve my generation, "Our" generation.

This day, I hereby solicit the support, advice and prayers of all well-meaning students, past and present leaders of this great organization and stakeholders alike, from North to the South, and from East to the West, as we take the bold step towards the  actualization of  this noble dream of ours - "The 2018  Repositioning Agenda of NANS." 

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"No one can win the  war individually, it takes the wisdom of the elders and young peoples' energy" Common - Glory