Lucky Emonefe, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has stated that his administration will resist the increase in school fees at tertiary institutions across the country.
He stated that NANS was ready to defend the interests of all Nigerian students.
He also appealed for reconciliation among NANS members, particularly disgruntled candidates who lost in the recently concluded Abuja election, saying that a united student union will benefit Nigerian students.
The president of the student union made the statement at a stakeholders’ press conference in Abuja on Monday, when some student leaders, including the newly-elected NANS Senate President, Afeez Akinteye, met to declare support for his administration.
Emenofe said, “I appreciate Nigerian students electing me as their president to represent their interests at the national level.
“Concerning the recent increase in school fees, my administration would do everything in our power to fight against the increase.
“There’s a very recent case at the University of Calabar where school fees were increased by the management, and we have mandated the zonal and state student leaders to intervene. But if they’re unable to resolve the matter, we will intervene in the interests of Nigerian students.”
Earlier in the press conference, some of the runner-ups, including Edom John, Stephen Edidiong, Boniface Emesowun, and Enomfon Umoisien, as well as the NANS Senate President-elect, Afeez Akinteye, and the Clerk-elect, Oladimeji Uthman, declared their support for Emonefe while recognizing him as the duly-elected NANS President.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
