A presidential aspirant of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Dotun Opaleye, popularly known as Zamora, has pledged to champion the conversion of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme into a grant if elected president of the association.
Opaleye, a student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), made the commitment during his formal declaration speech, where he outlined a reform-driven agenda aimed at repositioning NANS as a more responsive and student-focused body.
Addressing student leaders and journalists, the Comrade Opaleye decried what he described as years of neglect and policy failures affecting Nigerian students, citing rising tuition fees, poor infrastructure, and insecurity on campuses as pressing challenges.
“The burden of an education loan will be too stifling for young graduates who are not assured of finding their feet in Nigeria’s labour market,” he said, stressing the need for government and relevant stakeholders to reconsider the structure of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
He maintained that his administration would prioritise students’ welfare through advocacy for affordable education, improved hostel conditions, and better access to healthcare services across tertiary institutions.
Opaleye also promised to pursue a one-year nationwide moratorium on school fee increments, arguing that current economic realities do not justify further hikes by university managements.
In a bid to strengthen institutional capacity, the NANS presidential hopeful described as “disgraceful” the absence of a permanent secretariat for the association after over four decades of existence.
He pledged to initiate the process of securing land and laying the foundation for a national secretariat if elected.
While fielding questions from journalists, Opaleye emphasised the need for leadership anchored on integrity and service, noting that NANS must embrace courageous leadership and resist over-politicisation.
According to him, the association should remain pro-masses rather than align with individuals in the corridors of power.
He acknowledged concerns about the perceived decline in the relevance of NANS, admitting that the body has lost its footing over time but expressed confidence in his ability to restore its credibility.
“I am ready to bring NANS back on track and redeem its image,” he said.
On unity and inclusiveness, Opaleye assured that his leadership would foster transparency and equitable representation across all zones and student bodies, noting that “no student will be left behind.”
He framed his candidacy as a collective struggle rather than a personal ambition, calling on Nigerian students to support what he termed a movement to “reclaim the dignity” of the association.
“This is not just an election. It is a call to rebuild an association that works for students, not against them,” he concluded.
