The Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Student Matters, Azeez Adeyemi, has called on the students and management of the Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH) Igbesa, to extend the cooperation enjoyed under Governor Abiodun to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 poll, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

Adeyemi, made this call while speaking at a National Security Summit organized by the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) held at the institution.

He noted that the institution has benefited from modern lecture theatres, hostels, roads, ICT facilities, full course accreditation, and a serene academic environment under the incumbent APC-led government of Governor Abiodun, hence massive support must be given to Senator Adeola come 2027.

He added that the massive transformation which has led to strategic partnerships with global tech giants such as Oracle and Google, have also opened doors for students in digital certification and employability.

Adeyemi, however, recalled that the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 general election, as an incumbent Ogun West Senator, has facilitated provision of mini buses to convey students across campuses in the state, including OGITECH, Igbesa, which he said reduced the transport burden and improved safety.

He expressed optimism that OGITECH will continue to witness more transformation, if Senator Adeola is elected as the next governor of the state.

Delivering his keynote address at the summit with the theme, “Engaging Ogun Students Positively in the Fight Against Banditry, Kidnapping, Cultism and Extreme Violence”, Adeyemi called on students across the state to take ownership of the fight against banditry, kidnapping, cultism and extreme violence, saying a secured campus is critical to a secured Nigeria.

He said students must be engaged positively as partners rather than treated as suspects in the security architecture of the state. He noted that tomorrow’s Nigeria would be built by decisions students make today on campus.

He, however, raised the alarm over the rising wave of cult-related clashes in tertiary institutions nationwide.

“What starts as association and brotherhood has become bloodletting, kidnapping, and extreme violence. Cultism is not power. It is destruction. It destroys lives, futures, and families. A degree with a criminal record is a wasted degree”, he noted.

Adeyemi also linked banditry and kidnapping to small compromises and silence in the face of evil. “Banditry and kidnapping do not start in the bush. They start with young people who choose the wrong path. If we do not fight it here, it will fight us in our communities,” the governor’s aide warned.

The Special Assistant commended the Rector of OGITECH, Dr. Biodun Oluseye, and the management for their zero tolerance for cultism and prompt disciplinary actions.

He described Igbesa campus as a model for other institutions due to its security architecture and commitment to student welfare. “On behalf of the Ogun State Government, we say thank you. We urge you not to relent,” he stated.

Adeyemi charged the participants to “choose books over blood” and to leverage opportunities provided by government and private partners.

“The future is asking for engineers, not executioners. It needs innovators, not cultists. Face your studies, be security conscious, report suspicious movements, and engage in entrepreneurship and skill programmes,” he urged.

He observed that while government can provide infrastructure and partnerships, only students can determine what happens in hostels, lecture rooms, and on social media platforms.

“Let OGITECH, Igbesa be known not for cult clashes, but for academic excellence, tech innovation, and graduates that Ogun State and Nigeria are proud of. Choose life. Choose education. Choose Ogun”. He concluded.

On his part, a security expert urged the students to participate in the ongoing fight against insecurity in the country, noting no academic activities can thrive in an insecure society.

He charged them to always report suspected criminal activities to the school authorities and security agencies without revealing their identities, pointing out that preventing crimes before they happen is always the best.

Also speaking, a journalist, Laide Raheem, highlighted dangers associated with cultism and other extreme violent activities.

He urged the participants to eschew any form of violence on campus, saying as future leaders they should not engage in any activities capable of truncating their journey towards greatness.

Welcoming students to the summit, the NAOSS National President, Olubodun Olalekan Opeyemi, said the summit was another significant milestone in the Association’s collective resolve to build a generation of students who are security-conscious, law-abiding, and committed to the peace, unity, and development of Ogun State and Nigeria at large.

He commended the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun for the unwavering commitment to the security, education, and overall development of Ogun through strategic investments in security, youth development, education, and infrastructure.

Olubodun, however, charged the students that as future leaders, they must reject every form of cultism, kidnapping, banditry, cybercrime, drug abuse, and violent extremism.

“We must become ambassadors of peace, promote intelligence sharing with relevant authorities, respect the rule of law, and uphold the values of integrity, patriotism, and responsible citizenship. The future of Ogun State and Nigeria depends largely on the choices we make today. Let this summit challenge us to become part of the solution”, NAOSS National President stated.