The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has denied any link to the planned #FreeNnamdiKanu protest reportedly organised by activist Omoyele Sowore.
Speaking in Ibadan on Thursday, NANS President Olushola Oladoja urged students across Nigeria not to fall for “selfish and politically motivated individuals.” He said the association’s name was being used to mislead the public and warned that NANS would not support any illegal action.
Oladoja, who addressed journalists at the Federal Cooperative College, said the briefing aimed to set the record straight and protect NANS from political manipulation.
He stressed that NANS would never join or support any protest influenced by politicians or activists pursuing personal interests. According to him, the association remains focused on education, youth development, and national unity.
“NANS believes in law, order, and peaceful engagement,” he said. “It would be wrong to mobilise students for a protest over a matter still before the court.”
Oladoja further accused Sowore and his allies of using NANS’s name to attract public sympathy. He appealed to parents to warn their children not to participate in any protest sponsored by people seeking personal gain.
He also called on security agencies to disregard claims that NANS plans to mobilise for the protest.
Turning to the ongoing face-off between ASUU and the Federal Government, Oladoja urged both parties to resume talks immediately. “Students cannot continue to suffer for problems they did not create,” he said. “We demand that both sides resolve the dispute within 72 hours.”
He also reaffirmed NANS’s commitment to defending students’ welfare through dialogue, not politically induced demonstrations.
Over the years, NANS has influenced key national debates through peaceful advocacy. By rejecting the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest, the student body aims to protect its integrity and remain nonpartisan.
