ABEOKUTA — The student community in Ogun State has honoured the Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, FNCS, with two awards of excellence, citing his interventions in education, digital skills development, student empowerment and constituency development.

The awards were presented by representatives of major student organisations in the state, including the National Association of Nigerian Students, Ogun Joint Campus Committee (NANS Ogun JCC); National Association of University Students (NAUS); National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS); National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Ogun State; Progressive Students Movement; Students' Union Government of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic; SUG Federal College of Education, Osiele; and the SAS Student Movement.

The event attracted student leaders from institutions across Ogun Central, political leaders, government officials and members of the media.

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman of NANS Ogun JCC, Comrade Olabode Faruq Success, said the decision to honour Salisu was based on what he described as his "concrete, verifiable and impactful" contributions to students and education in the senatorial district.

Faruq said the students were not celebrating political positions but recognising measurable achievements, particularly in education, technology and youth development.

He identified the Senator's digital skills training, laptop empowerment programmes, ICT infrastructure projects and annual JAMB support as some of the interventions that have directly benefited students across Ogun Central.

SALISU'S DIGITAL EDUCATION INTERVENTIONS

According to the student leaders, one of the most significant aspects of Salisu's constituency interventions is his investment in digital education and technology-driven learning.

They noted that the Senator has supported digital skills training and laptop empowerment programmes for undergraduates, graduates, youths, teachers and artisans across the six local government areas of Ogun Central.

The programmes, they said, have provided beneficiaries with practical digital skills while giving students and young people access to laptops required for academic research, assignments, online learning, entrepreneurship and professional development.

The student bodies also commended Salisu for supporting the development of ICT infrastructure in schools and communities.

Among the ICT projects listed were community ICT centres at Government Technical College, Idi-Aba; Community High School, Oluke, Ifo; Federal University of Medical Sciences, Abeokuta (FUMSA), Odeda; Ansarudeen College, Ishaga Orile, Abeokuta North; and Methodist High School, Arigbajo, Ewekoro.

The Senator has also facilitated ICT equipment for several schools, including Egba Obafe Grammar School, Obafemi Owode; Egba Odeda High School; Ijemo Titun High School, Abeokuta; Nawairudeen Grammar School, Obantoko; Agbado District Comprehensive High School, Oke-Aro; and Asero High School, Abeokuta.

Another major intervention highlighted was the 250-capacity ICT centre at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), which the students said would enhance access to digital learning and technology.

The students also cited digital skills initiatives implemented in collaboration with relevant government agencies, including NITDA-supported training programmes and laptop empowerment schemes.

OVER 1,000 JAMB FORMS ANNUALLY

The student leaders further commended Salisu for his annual intervention through the provision of JAMB registration forms to more than 1,000 students from Ogun Central.

They said the initiative has helped reduce the financial burden on families while giving more young people the opportunity to participate in the UTME and pursue tertiary education.

Other educational interventions cited included the distribution of school bags, textbooks, mathematical sets, exercise books and JAMB/SSCE past questions to secondary school students across the senatorial district.

STUDENTS ENDORSE SALISU FOR SECOND TERM

The NANS Ogun JCC chairman said the award was also an expression of the students' support for Salisu's bid to return to the Senate for a second term.

According to him, the endorsement was based on the Senator's record of service and not merely on political affiliation.

"We are not endorsing a party. We are endorsing a person. We are endorsing a track record. We are endorsing what we know, what we have seen and what we have experienced," Faruq said.

He urged politicians to pay greater attention to the student population ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing the importance of youth participation in the democratic process.

Faruq also appealed to the Senator to support the student community with a bus or reliable means of transportation to facilitate mobilisation and engagement across campuses and communities in Ogun Central.

SALISU LISTS PROJECTS, INTERVENTIONS

Responding to the students, Senator Salisu expressed appreciation for the recognition, saying he was grateful that the student community found him worthy of the awards.

The Senator used the occasion to highlight some of his legislative activities and constituency interventions since assuming office as the representative of Ogun Central.

Among the legislative initiatives he listed were the National Internship and Unemployment Benefit Scheme, which he said had passed Second Reading, and the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill.

He also cited motions relating to the proposed sale of Lafarge Cement PLC to foreign interests and alleged illegal raids of markets by customs officers.

On education, Salisu reiterated his commitment to equipping young people with the skills and tools required to compete in an increasingly digital economy.

He listed his interventions to include digital skills training and laptop empowerment for undergraduates and graduates, youths, teachers and artisans; NITDA-supported digital skills programmes; annual JAMB support for over 1,000 students; educational materials for secondary school students; and the construction and equipping of ICT centres.

WOMEN, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

Beyond education, the Senator highlighted interventions in women empowerment, youth development, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure and social support.

These include the ₦50 million "Okowo Salisu" grant programme for more than 500 market women across Ogun Central, digital training and laptop empowerment for women, medical outreaches, facilitation of Federal Government cash grants for constituents, and agricultural training and fertiliser support for farmers.

He also mentioned annual festive support programmes involving the distribution of rice, livestock, cash and other palliatives to constituents during Eid-el-Kabir and Christmas/New Year celebrations.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

In infrastructure, Salisu highlighted the rehabilitation of the Camp-FUNAAB-Alabata Road and construction of the Akomoje-Mawuko-Opeji Road, alongside the provision and installation of transformers for communities including Isabo CDA and Fijabi CDA.

Under the Imole Omoyayi initiative, he also cited the installation of solar-powered streetlights at strategic locations across Ogun Central and the provision of 24-hour power supply and streetlights at the NUJ Secretariat, Iwe Iroyin, Abeokuta.

STUDENT LEADERS, POLITICAL FIGURES ATTEND

Among the political leaders at the event were Engr. Babatunde Adesina, Special Adviser on Public Works to the Ogun State Governor and Director-General of the Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu Campaign Committee; Hon. Folasade Adeyemo, PhD, Executive Chairman of Odeda Local Government and ALGON Chairman in Ogun State; former Chief Whip of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Idowu Olowofuja, as well as other political leaders from across Ogun Central.

Student leaders present included Comrade Oladimeji Uthman (Dan Fodio), NANS National Secretary; Comrade Faroy Mans, Ogun State Chairman; Comrade Akunlabi Abraham, President, Federal College of Education, Osiele; Comrade Okerafor Bestman, NANS National PRO; Comrade Oreduva Adekunle; and Comrade Uthman Danfocho of the SAS Student Movement, among others.

The students said the recognition was intended to underscore the importance of education, digital inclusion, access to technology and youth empowerment as key components of effective constituency representation.

They maintained that interventions that provide students with digital skills, laptops, educational materials and access to ICT facilities have the potential to improve academic performance, employability and the future prospects of young people across Ogun Central.