As the countdown to the 2025 Anambra governorship election begins, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has thrown its weight behind the re-election of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. NANS President, Comrade Olushola Oladoja, declared the association’s support during a tour of key infrastructure projects in the state capital, Awka, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
The NANS delegation, led by Oladoja, was in Anambra as part of its ongoing national campus tour across South Eastern Nigeria. During the visit, the student body inspected major projects executed by the Soludo-led administration, including the newly constructed Anambra Government House and the recently launched Solution Fun City, a sprawling recreational and tourism centre in the heart of Awka.
Dr Ossy Onuko, the Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), hosted the student leaders and provided insights into the scope and vision behind the projects. According to Dr Onuko, the government’s infrastructural drive is part of a broader development blueprint aimed at positioning Anambra as a modern, livable, and economically vibrant state.
Speaking to journalists after the inspection, Comrade Oladoja described the new Government House as one of the most outstanding public buildings in Nigeria in terms of design, functionality, and aesthetics. He praised Governor Soludo for initiating and completing such a visionary structure within a short time.
“This Government House is not only a pride to Anambra State but to Nigeria as a whole. It reflects foresight, planning, and quality governance. Governor Soludo’s work here is exceptional. If I had a voter’s card in Anambra, I would vote for him without hesitation,” Oladoja said.
He also visited the Solution Fun City, a modern leisure and tourism hub developed on a previously swampy terrain. Visibly impressed by the transformation, Oladoja described the project as proof of Soludo’s long-term vision for economic diversification and youth engagement through tourism and recreation.
“This is what leadership should look like—converting a swamp into a world-class facility that creates jobs, attracts tourism, and uplifts the image of the state. Soludo has demonstrated clear focus and we, as Nigerian students, are proud to endorse his re-election,” Oladoja added.
The NANS President also expressed concern over the limited media exposure of Soludo’s achievements and called on the Anambra State Government to improve its communication strategy.
“A lot is going on in Anambra, but it is not getting the attention it deserves nationally. The state government needs to increase visibility. People need to see what is happening here,” he noted.
Dr Onuko, while responding, said what the students witnessed was just a glimpse of Governor Soludo’s broader infrastructural agenda. He stated that the administration had awarded over 750 kilometres of road projects, with more than 450 kilometres completed and already asphalted. These include several dualised roads, both state and federal.
“Soludo is not driven by political noise; he is driven by vision and purpose. He is a technocrat who left international comfort to serve Anambra. This is the same man who served as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and advised over 20 global organisations,” Onuko said.
The students later visited the Office of the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, where they discussed youth inclusion, education, and the importance of sustained infrastructural development for future generations.
With this public endorsement, NANS becomes one of the first national bodies to officially back Soludo ahead of the upcoming election. The support is expected to boost the governor’s popularity among the youth, especially students across the South East region.
Observers believe that the student association’s endorsement carries symbolic weight, particularly because NANS represents millions of Nigerian students who are often vocal about governance issues. As the election season draws nearer, many will be watching to see how Governor Soludo leverages this momentum to consolidate his re-election bid.
