By Olawale Ogunbusola, Ibadan

The National Association of Oduduwa Students has called on all Southwest state governors to institutionalize annual sponsorship for students’ leadership training, educational conferences and international exchange programmes, similar to funding for Hajj and Christian pilgrimages to Jerusalem.

In a press statement signed by its National President, Comrade Olalere Benedict Adetunji, NAOS on Monday, it said the call was to broaden the knowledge, leadership capacity, innovation, and global competitiveness of students and youths.

“While religious pilgrimages continue to serve important spiritual purposes, there is an equally compelling need to invest in programmes that broaden the knowledge, leadership capacity, innovation, and global competitiveness of our students and youth.”

The group argued that “Today’s world is driven by knowledge, technology, innovation, and international collaboration,” and said students need access to summits, entrepreneurship workshops, research forums and educational tours within and outside Nigeria.

“While religious pilgrimages continue to serve important spiritual purposes, there is an equally compelling need to invest in programmes that broaden the knowledge, leadership capacity, innovation, and global competitiveness of our students and youth.”

It quoted as saying, “Such exposure equips them with practical knowledge, global perspectives, professional networks, and innovative ideas that can be applied to the development of their respective states and the nation at large.”

The student body urged Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti governments to establish annual sponsorship for deserving students, youth leaders, young entrepreneurs, researchers, innovators, and cultural ambassadors.

It said the initiative would “produce a generation of informed, responsible, and globally competitive leaders capable of driving economic growth, technological advancement, quality governance, cultural preservation, and sustainable development.”

The association added that the funding would “strengthen human capital development, reduce youth unemployment through skills acquisition and innovation, encourage civic participation, and position the Southwest as a leading hub for educational excellence in Africa.”

“Every student or youth who returns from an educational conference or international exchange programme comes back with valuable ideas, experiences, partnerships, and solutions,”

Meanwhile, NAOS pledged partnering with government and private sector to advance the initiative, saying, “The future of the Southwest depends not only on physical infrastructure but also on the quality, knowledge, competence, and exposure of its young people.”