Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology has emerged as the newly elected national president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) following the successful conclusion of the association’s 2026 national convention held at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja.
After a fiercely competitive election with five presidential candidates, Akinteye, a former president of the NANS Senate, emerged victorious. He formally takes over for the departed NANS president, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, who served out his term in that capacity.
Participants described the convention, which was held under strict security with police and Department of State Services (DSS) personnel present, as one of the most tranquil in the association’s history.
In a brief speech on Monday following his emergence, the newly elected NANS president thanked the delegates and promised to uphold the accomplishments of the departing administration while fostering unity among Nigerian students.
“Our election was successfully organised by NANS leadership, and a new leadership has emerged. “I am grateful to all the delegates for choosing me, an OAUSTECH student, to be the new president of NANS,” Akinteye stated.
He commended the convention’s calm environment, pointing out that there were no conflicts, crises, or acts of violence.
“This is one of the best conventions we have seen in NANS history. There was no conflict, no gunshot, no crisis. I’ve already received congratulations from every competitor. This demonstrates NANS’s unity, and we’ll keep cooperating to maintain the association’s unity,” he continued.
Akinteye also gave Nigerian students the assurance that his administration would carry on the excellent work of the departing leadership and reposition the organization to have a bigger influence on campuses all throughout the country.
He said, “Our efforts will soon be felt across campuses, and the nation will know that NANS is active and committed to students’ welfare.”
Comrade Olushola Oladoja, the outgoing president, described the election’s successful conduct as one of the happiest moments of his tenure.
“I give thanks to God Almighty for providing me with the chance to hold a free and fair election in NANS history. Oladoja remarked, “I am pleased that the person who came out is someone I firmly believe in and trust in terms of capacity.”
He said he was confident the future president would surpass his accomplishments while in office.
“I pray that God gives him the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and strength to successfully lead NANS. I wish him well,” he continued.
During the accreditation process on Sunday night at the Kapital Club in Asokoro, Comrade Omotayo Oladele Samuel, Chairman of the Independent Convention Planning Committee (ICPC), revealed that more than 300 delegates attended the convention.
He said that senators, presidents of student union governments, and other student leaders from higher education institutions around the nation were among the attendees.
Oladele reassured interested parties that sufficient preparations had been taken by the committee to guarantee a free, fair, and reliable election process.
Akinteye Babatunde Afeez of OAUSTECH, Aminu Haruna Maipampo of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Awoyinpa Opeoluwa Elijah of the Federal University of Technology Akure, Olumide Odumosu Josiah of Olabisi Onabanjo University, and Opaleye Samuel Oladutun of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta were among those running for president.