The National Association of Nigerian Students has appealed to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited to provide more scholarship opportunities and create jobs for Nigerian students and graduates, saying such interventions are critical to empowering young people and advancing national development.
The appeal was made by the President of NANS, Babatunde Akinteye, during a strategic meeting with the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Kestin Pondi, aimed at exploring areas of partnership to strengthen collaboration in national development and improve student welfare.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the NANS President, Tolulope Ogunjimi, the association said students remained critical stakeholders in nation-building and deserved greater support from both the government and the private sector.
Speaking during the engagement, Akinteye said promoting the welfare and advancement of students would remain a major priority of his administration.
He said, “As the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, the apex and umbrella body representing Nigerian students and student structures across the country, I make bold to affirm that students are critical stakeholders in national development.
“Consequently, promoting their welfare, advancement, and overall development remains a foremost priority of our administration.”
The NANS president urged the company to expand its scholarship initiatives to accommodate more Nigerian students through both local and international programmes.
He said access to quality education and global exposure would not only improve the academic and professional capacities of students but also equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to compete globally.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students appeals to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited to consider expanding the company’s scholarship initiative to accommodate a greater number of Nigerian students through both local and international scholarship opportunities,” he said.
He added, “Investing in the education and development of Nigerian students is an investment in the future of the nation, as the responsibility of shaping tomorrow’s Nigeria rests largely on the shoulders of Nigerian students.”
Akinteye also requested the company to explore avenues for creating employment opportunities for Nigerian students and graduates.
He noted that beyond educational support, job creation remained a vital component of youth empowerment and would contribute significantly to national growth and socio-economic development.
Earlier in his remarks, the NANS president commended Tantita for its role in safeguarding Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, describing the company as one of Africa’s leading private security firms.
According to him, “Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has played a significant role in safeguarding Nigeria’s economic mainstay through its advanced, technology-driven oil and gas pipeline surveillance system, asset protection initiatives, intelligence support services and comprehensive security operations across the Niger Delta region.”
He further stated that despite calls in some quarters for the Federal Government to terminate the company’s contract, NANS maintained confidence in Tantita because of what it described as the firm’s contributions to national security and economic stability.
Responding, Pondi commended the leadership of NANS and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigerian students.
He said Tantita remained willing to collaborate with students for the overall growth and development of the nation.
According to the statement, Pondi subsequently approved the requests presented by NANS, including scholarship support covering both local and international schemes, job opportunities for graduates and stakeholders, as well as mobility support for the leadership of the association.
Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited is an indigenous private security company engaged in the protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure, particularly in the Niger Delta. The company has repeatedly stated that its intelligence-led operations and surveillance activities have helped curb crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering, contributing to increased crude oil production and improved operational efficiency.