The Federal Government has restated its commitment to safeguarding Nigerian students and improving learning environments through sustained support for the Safe School Initiative.
Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, gave the assurance in Abuja during the 2025 International Students’ Day celebration organised by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement.
According to a statement issued by the Special Assistant’s office, Uzoka-Anite said the government would continue to prioritise funding for critical educational needs.
“We will keep supporting education financing, teachers’ salaries, school-feeding programmes and safer school environments through initiatives like the Safe School Initiative,” she said.
“The youth of this country are a collective responsibility of everyone. Their brilliance, resilience and creativity remain central to building Nigeria’s leadership and intellectual capital.”
She added that International Students’ Day was a moment to acknowledge not just academic excellence, but the promise of Nigeria’s future.
“Today, we celebrate more than high grades — we celebrate the future of Nigeria,” she stated.
The Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon, also highlighted the role of education in national development.
“Every great society is built on the brilliance, diligence and imagination of its young people,” Asefon said. “We are honouring the best graduating students from universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and the Nigerian Law School.”
He noted that the awardees received scholarships, laptops, cash prizes and other support tools, while exceptional secondary-school students were given ₦100,000 each to encourage excellence.
Asefon stressed that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to student welfare.
“The President believes — and we affirm — that our students are not just leaders of tomorrow, but contributors to national development today,” he added.
“When we reward excellence, we are investing in Nigeria’s future.”
Urging the honourees to remain exemplary, he said their achievements reflect the best of Nigeria’s educational institutions.
International Students’ Day commemorates the 1939 Nazi attack on Czech students in Prague, where nine leaders were executed and over 1,200 arrested. It has since evolved into a global day of student solidarity.
This year, the National Association of Nigerian Students marked the occasion in Abuja with the theme, “Empowering Students to be Agents of Change,” focusing on student rights, patriotism and productivity.
