The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Council (JCC), Osun State Axis, has expressed concern over the alleged exclusion of tertiary institution students from the 66th Independence Day celebration organised by the Osun State Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties on Thursday.
In a statement signed by the JCC Chairman, Comrade Kehinde Ayokunle Temiloluwa, and released by the association’s Public Relations Officer, Comrade Adediran Okikijesu, the student body said neither its leadership nor, to its knowledge, Students’ Union Presidents across tertiary institutions in the state received formal invitations to the programme.
NANS JCC said the development was concerning, noting that tertiary students constitute a significant segment of the state’s youth population and should ordinarily be carried along in a major programme marking Nigeria’s Independence Day.
The association also questioned the process surrounding the Osun State Government’s 2026 Independence Day Essay Competition, which was advertised as being open to students of both secondary and tertiary institutions.
According to NANS JCC, despite the competition specifically targeting tertiary students, Students’ Union leaders were allegedly not formally engaged to disseminate information about the exercise across their institutions.
The association consequently raised questions about how information about the competition was circulated among tertiary institutions, the number of participating institutions and entries received, as well as the criteria and panel used to assess the submissions.
NANS JCC also sought clarification on the process through which winners of the competition were selected, particularly if prizes were to be presented as part of the Independence Day celebration.
The student body called on the Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties to publicly clarify the process, including the tertiary institutions represented, number of entries received, assessment procedure and successful participants.
NANS JCC said it was dissociating the organised tertiary student community from the student-related component of the programme pending satisfactory clarification from the organisers.
“Our position is simple: tertiary students cannot be excluded from engagement and simultaneously be used as beneficiaries of programmes whose processes are unknown to their recognised leadership,” the association said.
“If a programme is meant for students, students must genuinely be carried along.”
The association said it remained committed to constructive engagement with relevant authorities to ensure that the interests of tertiary students in Osun State are adequately represented in government programmes and initiatives.