By Ghazali Ibrahim
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Lagos State, has rejected what it described as an “illegitimate representation” of its leadership at the unveiling of the KOH Youth Ambassadors, distancing itself from the programme and declaring it null and void.
In a press statement issued on April 26, 2026, and signed by its chairman, Comrade Ridwan Ajayi, the student body condemned the appearance of one Odewunmi Quadri at the event, where he was reportedly presented as Chairman of NANS Lagos.
The association described the act as misleading, unauthorized, and a deliberate attempt to distort the leadership structure of the Lagos student movement.
NANS JCC Lagos maintained that Quadri does not hold any recognized position within its constitutional framework, insisting that any claims made at the event lack legitimacy and should be disregarded by stakeholders and the public.
The group also accused the Lagos State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Adigun Ibrahim Olalekan, of orchestrating the development.
It alleged that his actions reflect a pattern of interference, political manipulation, and attempts to destabilize the student movement in the state.
According to the statement, hosting and publicly endorsing what it termed a “factional figure” shortly after what it described as an unconstitutional emergence points to a calculated effort to impose illegitimacy on the student body.
“The Lagos student movement is not a tool for personal political advancement,” the statement read, warning against external influence and what it called manufactured crises within student politics.
While condemning the incident, NANS Lagos extended its regards to the team of Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, whose initiative the KOH Youth Ambassadors programme represents.
However, it cautioned the team to be wary of aligning with individuals or groups that could undermine the credibility of the initiative.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with stakeholders through “credible and constitutionally recognized channels,” noting that any future declaration of support would reflect the collective will of Lagos students.
NANS Lagos further urged political actors, partners, and members of the public to refrain from recognizing or engaging with what it described as illegitimate representatives, insisting that no form of external endorsement can override its recognized leadership structure.
