The Federal Government has pledged to work more closely with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to improve the welfare, protection and support services available to Nigerians studying in foreign countries.
The commitment was made during a meeting between officials of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a delegation of NANS led by its Director of Diaspora and International Students Affairs, Daniel Oyeniyi.
In a statement issued on Monday by Oyeniyi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was represented at the engagement by the ministry’s Assistant Director, Mrs. Ezinne Osigwe.
Speaking during the meeting, Oyeniyi raised concerns over what he described as the limited engagement between the ministry and Nigerian students in the diaspora, saying many students overseas had not received adequate institutional support.
He noted that the absence of structured collaboration had left several Nigerian students abroad without sufficient attention to their welfare and other pressing concerns.
To address the situation, Oyeniyi proposed a strategic partnership between NANS and the ministry in key areas, including improved student welfare, enhanced consular services, student data management, policy advocacy, career development, crisis response mechanisms, academic partnerships, reintegration initiatives and regular dialogue with Nigerian students overseas.
According to him, closer cooperation between both institutions would strengthen support for Nigerians pursuing education outside the country and create a more effective framework for addressing their challenges.
Responding on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Osigwe apologised for the minister’s absence, explaining that he was attending another official engagement.
She assured the student leaders that the ministry was committed to building a sustainable working relationship with NANS to advance the interests of Nigerian students in the diaspora.
Osigwe said the communication gap experienced in the past was not deliberate but was largely due to the lack of sustained engagement between the ministry and representatives of Nigerian students abroad.
She added that the ministry had welcomed the proposals presented by NANS and would work with the association to ensure that issues affecting Nigerian students overseas receive greater attention.
According to her, the collaboration is expected to improve communication, strengthen consular support and create a more responsive system for addressing the needs of Nigerians studying in different parts of the world.
Oyeniyi described the meeting as a significant step towards improving the welfare of Nigerian students abroad, pledging that NANS would continue to advocate policies and initiatives that promote their interests.
He expressed optimism that the partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would help ease many of the challenges faced by Nigerian students in the diaspora while making overseas education more rewarding and beneficial.
