ANAMBRA - in a significant political development within the student movement, the South-East chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has formally endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The student body announced its intention to personally fund the purchase of the President’s “Expression of Interest” form and vowed to mobilize a massive 20,000-man youth rally to support his endorsement.

The declaration was made on Monday during a high-profile meeting at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam campus. Speaking under the theme “Discovering Purpose and Working in Ordination 2026,” the NANS South-East Coordinator, Comrade Okoye Okpala, described the President as a "genuine progressive" whose policies have directly rescued the academic careers of thousands.

Central to the endorsement is the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which Okpala hailed as a transformative intervention. He noted that the zero-interest loan scheme has transitioned from a campaign promise to a tangible reality, with over ₦183 billion reportedly disbursed to nearly one million students.

"For years, brilliant Nigerians abandoned their dreams due to financial lack," Okpala stated. "The current administration has restored dignity and hope to families. This is inclusive leadership that proves students are not an afterthought in governance."

The NANS leader also used the platform to contrast President Tinubu’s policies with those of the opposition. Specifically referencing past statements attributed to former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi regarding the loan scheme, Okpala raised concerns about the future of current beneficiaries under a different administration.

"As defenders of student interests, we must ask: what happens to those relying on this support if these policies are dismantled?" he queried. "We stand with policies that keep us in school and reduce the financial burden on our parents."

Ending his address, Okpala emphasized that the support from the South-East zone is not rooted in ethnic or partisan sentiment but is a data-driven response to "measurable impact."

By choosing to back Tinubu three years into his first term, the South-East NANS chapter has signaled a proactive stance in the 2027 conversation, prioritizing educational stability and the expansion of the student loan registry over traditional political affiliations.