NANS: 27 years of democracy gave Nigerians freedom, student loans, and mobile phones

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) says Nigeria's 27 years of uninterrupted democracy have given citizens real benefits — from freedom of speech to student loans and mobile phones.

Speaking at a Democracy Day walk in Kano on Friday, the Head of the NANS Senate Secretariat, Abdullahi Muhammad Saleh, said the anniversary is both a celebration and a moment to check how democracy has affected ordinary Nigerians.

"We're here to celebrate democracy and the 27 years of uninterrupted democratic rule in Nigeria. It's an achievement worthy of recognition," Saleh said.

Saleh, popularly known as Game Changer, listed specific gains. "Democracy comes with several benefits, including freedom of speech, freedom of movement and freedom of expression, provided such expressions remain within the law," he said.

He pointed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a direct result of democratic governance. "Today, children from less privileged backgrounds can pursue higher education with support from NELFUND. Beyond tuition fees, students also receive upkeep support to assist them while on campus," he said.

Saleh also credited democracy for the mobile telecom boom. "The introduction and expansion of mobile telecommunications during the Obasanjo era transformed communication in Nigeria, and today Nigerians continue to benefit from that development," he said.

The NANS leader walked through Nigeria's democratic transitions from Olusegun Obasanjo to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that each administration contributed something. "At our age, we've witnessed transitions from President Obasanjo to President Tinubu, and every administration has brought its own developmental contributions," he said.

But Saleh didn't only celebrate. He raised serious concerns about student security and welfare. He said NANS President Akinteye Babatunde Afeez visited Oyo State shortly after taking office to discuss security with government officials and students.

NANS runs security awareness programmes at national, zonal, state, and campus levels. "We have structures through which information is disseminated from the national level down to campuses and communities. We encourage students to be security-conscious and to support efforts aimed at improving safety," Saleh said.

He admitted students can't solve the country's security problems alone. He urged both federal and state governments to make security and education top priorities. "Security should remain a top priority. After security, education deserves urgent attention because of its importance to national development," he said.

Saleh also called on Nigerians to help security agencies by giving timely and credible information. "If we observe suspicious activities in our communities, we should promptly alert the appropriate authorities. Security is a collective responsibility," he added.

The NANS leader made two more demands. He appealed for better electricity supply to schools, saying many departments need power for practical training equipment. He also stressed the need to teach students practical and vocational skills so they can become self-reliant after graduation.

The Democracy Day walk was organised by NANS under President Akinteye's leadership. It brought together students in Kano to mark 27 years since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.