NANS@40: Students seeks support to launch school to farm, other projects

The President of National Association of Nigerian Students, Sunday Asefon has called on the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide financial backing and policy framework to ensure the success of its three ‘legacy projects ‘ aimed at fighting poverty and unemployment.

He said the projects which include ‘Operation School to Farm’, ‘Nigerian Students Travel Safe and Cheap Scheme’, and the establishment of students’ owned incubation/skill acquisition centres and mechanized farm estates in all 36 states of the federation and the FCT will be launched during its forthcoming 40th anniversary celebration scheduled for April.

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While speaking to Journalist on Wednesday in Abuja, he said the key objectives of the projects are to contribute meaningfully to the effort of the government to tackle unemployment in the country, redirect talents and energies of some youths away from internet fraud and other criminal activities.

He said the proposed launch of ‘Operation School to Farm’ is a decisive and bold response of NANS to President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to all state governors to establish farm estates in order to boost the government’s food sufficiency and agricultural revolution programme.

“In view of this, NANS hereby call on President Buhari to urgently and decisively prevail on the 36 states governors, FCT minister, ministers of agriculture, education, trade and investment, labour and productivity, youths and sports and concerned agencies of government to work together with NANS to bring the three legacy projects into fruition,” he said.

He said NANS would publish and launch a historical compendium during the anniversary in order to raise funds to kick start the legacy projects.