The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement (OSSSE), has launched a digital skills acceleration programme for student leaders in the North Central zone. The event, held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, brought together student union executives, government officials, and university administrators to advance digital skills and leadership capacity among Nigerian students.
Key Officials and Attendees
The event featured senior representation from several federal institutions. The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Lafia, Prof. Muhammad Yisa Kida, and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, were among the dignitaries present. The Minister of Education was represented by the Director of University Education, Dr Kareem Olawale Lateef, while the Minister of Youth Development sent his Working Chief of Staff, Muhammad Abdullah.
Representatives of the Vice-Chancellors of the University of Abuja and Federal University Lokoja also attended, alongside Deans of Student Affairs from across the zone. Student bodies present included the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) national executives led by the Vice President National, the NANS Zone C Coordinator, the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) national executives, all Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) chairmen, and Student Union Government (SUG) presidents from the zone.
Programme Focus: Digital Skills for the Future
Addressing participants, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, Comrade Asefon Sunday Dayo, said the programme was designed to prepare students for a rapidly changing global economy. The speech highlighted artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, software development, and digital marketing as fields creating new openings for young Nigerians. Students were urged to position themselves as creators rather than seekers of opportunity.
"We want every Nigerian student to become a creator of opportunities, not just a seeker of opportunities," the address read. The office also emphasised the broader responsibility of student leaders, urging them to promote integrity, encourage dialogue, and support peaceful coexistence within their institutions and communities. Students were described as "active partners in nation-building today" rather than simply leaders of the future.
Government Commitment and Broader Initiatives
Comrade Dayo reaffirmed the office's commitment to ongoing engagement with Nigerian students, saying the administration would continue to create platforms that empower students academically, economically, and socially. The programme forms part of a wider series of zonal engagements under the Renewed Hope Agenda, targeting young Nigerians across the country's geopolitical zones.
In a related development, the Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Committee announced the launch of the 2026 National Laureate Programme, a federal government scheme backed by a ₦365 million annual research prize fund to recognise outstanding academic work in Nigerian higher institutions. The committee's spokesperson, Ita Ekpenyong, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.
These initiatives underscore the federal government's focus on youth empowerment and educational advancement, aiming to equip Nigerian students with the skills needed for the digital economy and to foster a culture of academic excellence.
