The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone C, has urged the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to prioritise education, employment and youth development in its proposed 20-year development plan for the region.

NANS gave the advice while commending the Commission for convening a broad stakeholders’ engagement aimed at shaping a clear development direction for the North Central over the next two decades.

The students’ body described the initiative as timely and forward-looking, saying the long-term roadmap should reflect the aspirations, challenges and development potential of the people of the region.

Speaking on behalf of students across the zone, the Coordinator of NANS Zone C, Comrade Abiola Azeez Babatunde, said young people and students must occupy a central place in conversations about the future of the North Central.

He said the region is home to millions of young Nigerians whose skills, ideas, energy and innovative capacity could contribute significantly to its economic and social transformation if provided with the right opportunities.

“Students and young people are not only beneficiaries of development; we are also partners in building the future we desire. Any 20-year development plan for the North Central must therefore give serious attention to education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, technology and youth participation,” Babatunde said.

He assured the NCDC of the readiness of NANS Zone C to work with the Commission and other stakeholders to advance initiatives that would create opportunities for students and young people across the region.

The association said sustained collaboration among the NCDC, governments, educational institutions, organised youth bodies, traditional institutions, the private sector and other stakeholders would be crucial to translating the region’s potential into measurable development.

Also in attendance was the Head of Emergency and Disaster Management, NANS, Comrade Anzaku Shedrack CNS, who represented the NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde GCNS.

Shedrack commended the NCDC for the initiative and urged the Commission to sustain the stakeholders’ engagement by making it a quarterly exercise.

He expressed NANS’ support for the proposed 20-year roadmap, assuring the Commission that the students’ body would continue to support initiatives aimed at advancing the development of the North Central.

NANS Zone C also called for continuous engagement with the student constituency, stressing that students constitute a critical demographic whose experiences, concerns and ideas should be reflected in the region’s long-term development agenda.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to constructive advocacy, partnership and responsible representation, expressing optimism that the 20-year development vision would help position the North Central for greater opportunities, stronger institutions and inclusive growth.