LUCKY Emonefe, National President of National Association of Niger-Delta Students (NANDS), in a chat with journalists in Lagos, explained the objective of the association, assessed the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, among many issues. TUNDE ESO was there and reports.
Could you tell us a bit about the association?
The association is the umbrella body of all Niger Delta students in tertiary institution of learning at home and in the Diaspora.
Our desire to integrate the students in the region to tackle the immediate problems facing there led to her formation about one and a half decade ago.
It is also aimed at breeding future leaders from the oil rich Niger Delta region, as well as advocating for peace and sustainable development through intellectual arsenal.
NANDS also partners with well-meaning personalities and non-governmental organisation in making the Nigerian society a better place.
What is the Niger Delta student award all about?
It is part of the traditions and chartered of the association. The leadership of the Niger Delta students is empowered by its constitution to present award of excellence to deserving Nigerian personalities that have contributed their quote to the development of the Nigerian society.
The award is only given to deserving personalities in the society and it is the responsibility of the Facts Finding Committee (FFC) of the Niger Delta students to carefully assess the antecedents of these personalities and report their findings to the Senate Council of the association for voting and scrutulisation.
The award is to encourage well-meaning leaders to strive harder in their service to humanity.
What is your assessment of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration?
There is a popular saying that ‘the truth is like oil, no matter the amount of water you pour on it, it must surely come to the top.’
It is crystal clear that the Jonathan administration has impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians, especially in the power and petroleum industry sectors.
The fact remains that before now, Nigeria could not generate up to 2,000 megawatts, but now we can boast of 4,000 megawatts of electricity.
The ongoing reform in the petroleum sector and commitment to fight corruption is another good effort of the administration.
The Nigerian Content Development Act is something to write home about, because it encourages indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry.
On infrastructural development, though projects are still ongoing, the present administration has shown that there is hope for Nigeria from now till 2015.
As Nigerians, it is our responsibilities to give the President the needed support to ensure the best for our country.
We also call on the leadership of Boko Haram to shun all their violence acts and killing of innocent Nigerians, because it is inhuman and barbaric, and embrace dialogue to foster the much-needed national unity.
As a students’ body, what is your view on the ongoing constitutional review?
The leadership of Niger Delta students is of the strong view that there should be financial and political autonomy for local governments and state Houses of Assembly.
The is because to achieve accelerated and sustainable development of the rural areas and improve quality of life for the grassroots, there is the need for financial and political autonomy for local governments.
To achieve this, the youths and students have a great role to play and need to be involved in the process, because the future belongs to them.
I equally call on well-meaning Nigerians, human rights activists and civil society organisations to be very vigilant and ready to speak out against any anti-people policies in our society.
What is the role of your association in the campuses?
As a well known association with over 10 million members schooling at home and abroad, we are steadfast in our roles, as leader of brighter tomorrow and fighting for justice in the society.
We also speak out against oppression, suppression and victimisation of students in our campuses.
The Niger Delta students’ association also partners with examinations ethnics committee to curb examination malpractices in our tertiary institutions and abolish all forms of campus violence, such as cultism and other anti-social vices.
We also sensitise our youths on their role and commitment toward building a better society through partnership with corporate bodies.
Education sensitisation is another vital area we are seriously committed to. We are presently organising an education sensitisation campaign in the creeks and hinterland of the Niger Delta to sensitise the young ones on the importance of education.
In addition, we are providing educational materials to them, such as pencils, notebooks, pen and so on.
Source Guardian Newspaper
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