NANS URGES FG TO INCLUDE STUDENTS IN EBOLA EMERGENCY RESPONSE COMMITTEE
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to include student representatives in the national Ebola Emergency Response Committee, arguing that their involvement would enhance awareness campaigns and public health sensitisation efforts across tertiary institutions nationwide.
The appeal was made in a statement issued on Wednesday by the association’s Public Relations Officer, Obidah David, on behalf of the NANS leadership.
The student body commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Ebola Emergency Response Committee, describing the initiative as a proactive measure aimed at protecting the health and safety of Nigerians.
According to NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde, the inclusion of students in the committee would strengthen the dissemination of health information and improve preparedness efforts within campuses and other educational settings.
The association noted that students make up a significant portion of Nigeria’s population and are among the groups that require targeted health education due to the close interactions that occur in hostels, lecture halls, and other communal environments.
NANS stated that having student representatives on the committee would create an effective channel for information sharing, grassroots mobilisation, and health awareness campaigns across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions.
The association also expressed readiness to work with health authorities, educational institutions, and relevant stakeholders to coordinate sensitisation programmes focused on preventive measures, early detection procedures, and responsible health practices.
It added that student participation in the emergency response framework would promote wider stakeholder engagement, transparency, and accountability while ensuring that accurate public health information reaches campuses across the country.
While reaffirming its support for government efforts to safeguard public health, NANS urged the Federal Government to consider its request in the interest of national health security and the welfare of students and other Nigerians.
The appeal comes as the Federal Government intensifies preparations against potential Ebola outbreaks through the establishment of an emergency response framework.
Nigeria gained international recognition for successfully containing the Ebola outbreak in 2014 through swift intervention, extensive contact tracing, and effective public awareness campaigns. Health experts have since continued to stress the importance of community participation and public education in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, particularly among densely populated groups such as students.
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