Nigerian students instrumental to liberation of many African countries – Sambo

Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Saturday in Zaria, Kaduna State said Nigerian students were in the vanguard of the fight against apartheid and the liberation of many African countries.
The Vice-President said this at a congregation of past students union leaders of Ahmadu Bello University at the institution’s main campus in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Sambo, who was represented by Dr. Bello Mohammed, a former Defence Minister, said the students’ efforts contributed largely to the demise of apartheid and thorough liberation of African countries.
He said: “Students will remain conscious of the peoples’ rights and outlets to fight against bad governance.
“Students’ bodies have always been active in protests against bad governance, even during the military era.
“Before our independence, the government used to consider the peoples’ views before implementing any policy.
“When we say people, the main area of reference is students who will react on behalf of the people.”
Speaking also, a former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, decried the situation where some students spend about 10 years to obtain a degree.
Buhari, who was represented by retired Colonel Hamidu Ali, a former Kaduna State Governor, then called for a reversal of the trend.
“It is necessary for government to give education the desired attention by genuinely investing in the sector,” he said.
Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State, represented by Malam Ibrahim Ali, the state’s Commissioner for Education, lauded ABU Zaria for organising what he described as a historic event.
Also, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, described the occasion as a unique moment in the history of students’ unionism in the university.
“What is unique today is the warm convergence of all the past leaders,” he said.
Mustapha said there was the need for the university to be proactive in building cordial relationships not only with student unions but also with the university’s other in-house unions.
“This will serve as a catalyst for positive change in the institution,” the vice-chancellor said.