It was a day of interaction, testimonies and renewed optimism for students across the South-East as student leaders and young Nigerians converged on the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), for the Renewed Hope Students’ Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme.
The engagement, championed by Hon. Comr. Sunday Asefon, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Engagement, provided a platform for students to interact directly with representatives of the Federal Government, ask questions, share experiences and gain first-hand information about opportunities available under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Rather than being a conventional government programme, the gathering provided an avenue for students to make their voices heard, exchange ideas with policymakers and discuss issues directly affecting their education and future.
Addressing the students, Asefon spoke extensively on the achievements of President Tinubu’s administration in the education sector, urging the young people to take ownership of the opportunities created through the various Federal Government interventions.
He encouraged the students not to remain passive beneficiaries but to actively seek out available opportunities, acquire relevant skills and position themselves to contribute to Nigeria’s development.
Asefon also commended the Enugu State Government, South-East NANS stakeholders and student leaders for their participation and support, stressing the importance of collaboration between government and the student community.
One of the most engaging moments of the event came when students took turns to share their personal experiences with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Several beneficiaries came to the podium to testify about how the scheme had enabled them to continue their education and pursue academic dreams that might otherwise have been threatened by financial difficulties.
The students also expressed strong satisfaction with NELFUND’s newly introduced monthly stipends, describing the intervention as a life-saving initiative that has helped reduce the financial pressure associated with tertiary education.
Their testimonies gave a human face to the Federal Government’s education financing reforms, as students openly narrated how access to financial support had provided relief for themselves and their families.
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed that more than 1.7 million students had applied for the Federal Government’s student loan scheme, with about 1.5 million applications already processed.
He said more than N282 billion had been disbursed to students across 288 tertiary institutions, comprising over N183 billion paid directly to institutions for tuition and nearly N98 billion released to students as upkeep allowances.
Sawyerr urged more students in the South-East to embrace the scheme, explaining that the loans are interest-free and repayment only begins when beneficiaries secure employment.
The interaction also shifted attention from education financing to the future of work, with government representatives challenging students to prepare for an increasingly technology-driven economy.
Students were encouraged to embrace artificial intelligence, coding, robotics, cybersecurity, software development and digital entrepreneurship, with emphasis placed on becoming creators and innovators rather than merely consumers of technology.
The Digital Acceleration component of the programme reinforced that message, with laptops distributed to selected students to support digital learning, research and innovation.
Students who correctly answered questions during the interactive sessions were also rewarded with prizes, further energising the engagement and encouraging active participation.
Another major attraction was the presentation of a mini electric tricycle designed by a student. The innovative project drew attention from participants and organisers, and the student was rewarded for demonstrating the type of creativity and problem-solving ability the programme seeks to promote among young Nigerians.
The event therefore became more than an engagement between government and student leaders; it evolved into a platform where students could testify about government interventions, seek clarification, showcase their innovations and connect directly with opportunities capable of shaping their academic and professional futures.
For many of the students, the experience offered a rare opportunity to be heard while also demonstrating that the conversation around Nigeria’s education sector is increasingly moving beyond classrooms and lecture halls to include technology, innovation, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and direct student-government engagement.
The programme ended with renewed calls for sustained dialogue between the Federal Government and students, with organisers expressing optimism that the South-East engagement would strengthen trust, improve access to government opportunities and inspire a new generation of digitally skilled, innovative and socially conscious Nigerian students.