The senior special assistant to the President on student engagement, Sunday Asefon has advocated for automatic employment for first-class graduates by their tertiary institutions and ministries, departments, and agencies of the federal government.

The presidential aide also advocated for the sponsorship of best graduating students in ICT and related courses, in partnership with both local and foreign Tech institutions.

Asefon said this during the unveiling of the Nigerian students’ flag and renewed hope programme agenda by his office in Abuja.

He said: “One of our hope agenda is the renewed hope academic excellence reward scheme. It entails a befitting celebration and rewarding prize for overall best graduates from every tertiary institution vis-a-viz arrangements of automatic absorption into the academia by the school authority and other MDAs.”

The former National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) president also gave assurances that the government was working assiduously towards kick-starting the student loan scheme which was strictly meant for indigent Nigerians.

He said: “I can assure you that the bottlenecks about the loan are things of the past and we will ensure the indigent Nigerian students get it once the portal is opened. There’s going to be transparency and the president is committed to make it happen.”

He said there are plans to establish a student complaint unit to enable Nigerian students to have a platform where they can discuss the problems affecting their academic activities.

Asefon also disclosed that by March, his office would be unveiling the National Student Leaders Summit and the Renewed Hope Campus Ambassadors.

He added: “Also to be unveiled in the year is the Diaspora Student Leaders Retreat, all geared towards renewing the hope of Nigerian students.

“Other activities include; Nigerian students leaders’ regional dialogue, annual international students day celebration, annual all Nigerian tertiary institution students affairs conference, Local and foreign engagement of student bodies/inauguration of national students management committee, identification and discussion of students’ challenges on campus, sensitisation on student loan scheme, social investment and empowerment programme of the federal government.” (The Nation)

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