The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS Southwest Zone D, has commended the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Engagement, Hon. Comr. Sunday Asefon, over the hosting of the Renewed Hope Student Leaders Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme for the Southwest.

The programme, held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, focused on digital skills, innovation and practical support for students.

According to NANS Southwest, outstanding students drawn from selected tertiary institutions across the six states of the Southwest were recognised during the programme and presented with laptops to support their academic activities, digital development and innovative capacity.

In a statement signed by the Coordinator of NANS Southwest Zone D, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, popularly known as BILLIONCODES, the association said the emphasis placed on merit and academic excellence was particularly significant.

The student body noted that while the number of participating institutions and beneficiaries was limited, the decision to recognise students on the basis of outstanding performance sends a wider message to the Nigerian student community about the value of discipline, hard work and continuous self-development.

NANS Southwest urged students who did not benefit from the current phase not to regard the limited slots as exclusion, but to remain focused on improving their academic performance, leadership capacity, innovation and personal development.

The association said opportunities may be limited at a particular time, but students should not allow that to limit their pursuit of excellence.

NANS Southwest also highlighted Asefon’s previous involvement in the student movement, noting that he served as National President of NANS before his current role within the Presidency.

According to the statement, his continued engagement with students reflects an effort to maintain a connection with the constituency from which his leadership journey emerged.

The association said digital empowerment has become increasingly important in an era where students require access to technology for research, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, innovation and preparation for the modern labour market.

NANS Southwest therefore praised the decision to combine student engagement with the provision of practical tools rather than limiting the programme to speeches and discussions.

The association also appreciated participating institutions, student leaders, facilitators and other stakeholders who contributed to the programme.

While commending the initiative, NANS Southwest expressed hope that future editions would progressively accommodate more institutions and more students across the region.

The association encouraged students to continue learning, building, innovating and positioning themselves for opportunities.

It stressed that although only a limited number of students may receive laptops in a particular phase, the wider objective should be to inspire thousands of students to make excellence a consistent part of their academic and personal development.