By Douglas Princemola (08035411201)
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and student leaders across tertiary institutions in Imo State have appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma to fulfil what they described as a 2023 promise to provide vehicles and mobility support for student leadership structures.
The appeal was made during a press conference held in Owerri on Monday, August 24, 2026.
The student leaders said the lack of mobility support has made it difficult for them to effectively carry out their responsibilities, especially when travelling between campuses, government offices, security agencies and other locations.
The joint statement was read by the NANS Public Relations Officer, Zone F (South-East), Comrade Ogbehi Chikwado Pius.
According to the students, mobility support is not a luxury but an essential tool for effective representation, advocacy, emergency response and constructive engagement with government.
They also expressed concern that transportation challenges have affected the participation of Imo student representatives in national and zonal engagements.
They cited the NANS Leadership Senate sitting in Ebonyi State as an example, saying that while student leaders from other states were participating, their Imo counterparts faced difficulties attending the meeting.
The students stressed that their demand was not for political patronage.
Instead, they said they were seeking fairness, recognition and the fulfilment of a commitment they claimed was made to the student community in 2023.
SUG President of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Comrade Nwosu Desmond, commended Governor Uzodimma for what he described as his fatherly disposition towards students.
Nwosu, however, suggested that the governor’s attention may not have been sufficiently drawn to previous correspondence concerning the mobility request.
He expressed confidence that Governor Uzodimma would respond positively and take steps to address the students’ concerns.
NANS and the student leaders further called on the state government to recognise students as important stakeholders in education, youth development, security and the future of Imo State.
They appealed for direct engagement with student leadership and urged the governor to provide a clear and practical timeline for implementing the mobility support.
The students said they had waited patiently and continued to engage the government respectfully, but insisted that concrete action was now needed.
«“We have waited. We have appealed. We have remained respectful. Now, we demand that the promise be fulfilled. The time to act is now,” the students said.»
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NANS IMO STATE COMMENDS GOVERNOR HOPE UZODINMA’S DEVELOPMENTAL EFFORTS, BUT DEMANDS FULFILMENT OF 2023 PROMISE TO STUDENT COMMUNITYes in Imo State
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Imo State, wishes to acknowledge the developmental efforts and various interventions of the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, across the state.
We recognise the government’s efforts in infrastructure and other sectors, and we appreciate every initiative capable of improving the lives of the people of Imo State.
However, commendation must not silence legitimate concerns, and respect must not prevent students from demanding accountability.
Today, 24th August 2026, NANS Imo State is compelled to publicly remind the government of Imo State of a commitment made by His Excellency in 2023 at the Imo State Government House concerning the provision of vehicles and mobility support to student communities across tertiary institutions in the state and the NANS leadership.
Three years have passed. The promise remains unfulfilled.
We believe that it is time to ask, respectfully but firmly:
HOW LONG WILL IMO STUDENTS WAIT?
Student leaders are not ceremonial figures. We represent thousands of young people across tertiary institutions. We move between campuses, government offices, security agencies, communities and institutions in the course of carrying out our responsibilities.
Mobility is therefore not a luxury. It is an essential tool for effective student leadership, representation, emergency response, advocacy and engagement with government.
THE CURRENT SITUATION SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
As we speak today, 24th August 2026, the NANS Leadership Senate Sitting is taking place in Ebonyi State, with NANS leaders from different states across Nigeria participating.
Unfortunately, Imo State is unable to participate with the level of effectiveness expected of a state with one of the largest student populations in the South-East.
Why?
Mobility.
Our leaders are willing. Our students are ready. Our representatives have the mandate.
But the practical means to move them from Imo State to important national engagements remains a serious challenge.
This is precisely why the promise made in 2023 was important.
Had that commitment been implemented, situations such as this would not continue to embarrass Imo students and limit our participation in national student affairs.
STUDENTS CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE TREATED AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT
Your Excellency, we respectfully ask: if government can provide vehicles and mobility support to other categories of stakeholders, why should the student community continue to wait for a promise made three years ago?
We have seen vehicles provided to political stakeholders, including party structures and chairmen, on different occasions.
We do not begrudge anyone such support.
2But we cannot understand why students who constitute the future workforce, leadership and intellectual strength of Imo State-should continually be asked to wait.
Students are stakeholders too.
We are not demanding political patronage.
We are demanding fairness, recognition and fulfilment of a publicly made commitment.
THIS IS A DEMAND FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT AN ATTACK
Let it be clearly understood that this press conference is not an attack on Governor Hope Uzodinma.
But neither is it acceptable for student leaders to remain silent indefinitely when commitments made to them have not been fulfilled.
Respectfully reminding government of its promise is not disrespect.
Demanding accountability is not rebellion.
Speaking for students is not political blackmail.
We will continue to engage government constructively, but constructive engagement must produce results.
The students of Imo State deserve more than promises.
They deserve action.
OUR DEMAND
NANS Imo State therefore calls on His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to:
- Immediately revisit and implement the 2023 commitment to provide mobility support and vehicles for student communities across tertiary institutions in Imo State.
- Provide appropriate mobility support for the NANS leadership to enable representatives effectively attend national, zonal and state engagements.
- Engage directly with NANS leadership on a clear and practical timeline for the implementation of this commitment.
- Ensure that student leaders are recognised as genuine stakeholders in government policies affecting education, youth development, security and the future of Imo State.
YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE STUDENTS HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH
Three years is not a short period.
From 2023 to 2026, generations of student leaders have come and gone, while the same promise remains outstanding.
We therefore respectfully but firmly state:
The time for another promise is over. The time for implementation is now.
We call on the Governor to demonstrate, once again, that the government of Imo State values its students by translating this particular commitment from words into reality.
A government that can mobilise resources for other stakeholders should also be able to mobilise resources for its students.
A government that recognises political stakeholders should recognise student stakeholders.
And a government that speaks about investing in the future must be prepared to invest in the young people who represent that future.
4CONCLUSION
NANS Imo State appreciates the developmental strides of the administration of Senator Hope Uzodinma and remains willing to cooperate with the government on programmes that promote education, security, empowerment, welfare and the advancement of Imo students.
But cooperation does not mean silence.
We shall continue to speak.
We shall continue to engage.
And we shall continue to remind the government whenever necessary.
Your Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodinma, the students remember the 2023 promise.
We have waited.
We have appealed.
We have remained respectful.
Now, we demand that the promise be fulfilled.
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW.
Signed:
Comr. Ogbuehi Chikwado Pius NANS P.R.O., Zone F (South-East)
5CONCLUSION
NANS Imo State appreciates the developmental strides of the administration of Senator Hope Uzodinma and remains willing to cooperate with the government on programmes that promote education, security, empowerment, welfare and the advancement of Imo students.
But cooperation does not mean silence.
We shall continue to speak.
We shall continue to engage.
And we shall continue to remind the government whenever necessary.
Your Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodinma, the students remember the 2023 promise.
We have waited.
We have appealed.
We have remained respectful.
Now, we demand that the promise be fulfilled.
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW.
Signed:
Comr. Ogbuehi Chikwado Pius NANS P.R.O., Zone F (South-East)
