By Bidemi Moses
“Exploring the benefits of limiting NANS executive roles to undergraduate students for a more ethical and transparent student body.”
The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) plays a pivotal role in representing the interests and welfare of students across the country. As an influential student organization, its leadership and executive positions are vital to the association’s success in advocating for students’ needs. However, there has been a growing concern about the participation of postgraduate students in holding key executive roles within the association.
A potential solution to address this concern is to review the NANS constitution to restrict eligibility for executive positions to undergraduate students only. By allowing only those pursuing their first degree to contest for any NANS post, the association can maintain a more focused and relevant leadership that truly represents the undergraduate student body.
Such a review could have multiple benefits:
- Promoting a Focused Agenda: Limiting executive roles to undergraduates ensures that the association’s leadership remains closely connected to the current undergraduate experience and challenges. This focus could help the association better advocate for the needs and concerns of its primary constituency.
- Curbing Ambitiousness and Corruption: By restricting participation to undergraduates, the association can deter individuals who may seek executive positions for personal gain or to advance their careers. This measure helps to ensure that those in leadership roles are genuinely motivated by a desire to serve their peers.
- Encouraging Fresh Perspectives: With a younger, undergraduate-led executive team, NANS can benefit from new ideas and perspectives. This infusion of fresh voices can help the association remain dynamic and responsive to the evolving needs of students.
- Strengthening Trust and Transparency: By aligning its leadership more closely with the student body it represents, NANS can foster greater trust among its members. This trust is essential for the association’s effectiveness and legitimacy.
In conclusion, a review of the NANS constitution to limit executive eligibility to undergraduate students only could have significant positive effects on the association. By taking this step, NANS can ensure that its leadership remains relevant, focused, and representative of the students it serves. This change could enhance the association’s ability to advocate for students’ rights and interests, promoting a stronger, more ethical, and more effective student organization.
