The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Asefon Sunday, urged Nigerian youths to exercise patience with the current administration during a recent event in Makurdi. Speaking to journalists at a three-day capacity-building and leadership development training program for selected student union leaders from tertiary institutions in North Central Nigeria, Asefon emphasized the government’s commitment to youth development.
The training, themed “Building Responsible Young Leaders for National Development,” focused on equipping future leaders with essential conflict resolution skills. Asefon reassured attendees that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has the best interests of the youth at heart and encouraged them to resist manipulation from those he termed as “enemies of the state.”
He stated, “I urge the youth to remain patient with this government, as it genuinely aims to foster their growth. It is crucial that they do not become pawns for those whose agendas conflict with national progress.” Asefon warned against those who have previously exploited the nation, claiming they aim to incite unrest to destabilize the government.
Highlighting the administration’s accomplishments over the past year, Asefon noted significant investments in education, including the introduction of student loans and the removal of the previous policy mandating that 40 percent of schools’ internally generated revenue be remitted to the federal government. He asserted, “The current government’s investment in education has surpassed that of previous administrations.”
Solomon Alabi, the training consultant, added that the program aims to empower student leaders to address issues constructively, steering away from protests and fostering dialogue instead.
