The Kwara State Government has charged the newly elected leadership of the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) to prioritise the welfare and interests of students while promoting accountability and unity in their representation.

The Commissioner for Youth Development, Amb. Ndanusa Usman Shehu, gave the charge when the newly elected NAKSS executives, led by the President-elect, Comrade Mohammed Issa Patigi, paid a familiarisation visit to the ministry in Ilorin.

Shehu stressed the need for effective collaboration between the government and student leadership, saying regular engagement would help the government better understand students' concerns and develop initiatives to address them.

He assured the association of the ministry's readiness to work with NAKSS on policies and programmes focused on students' welfare, skills development, empowerment and access to opportunities.

The commissioner also urged the new NAKSS leadership to demonstrate unity and responsible leadership while representing the interests of Kwara students.

He commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for what he described as his commitment to youth and student development, particularly the provision of facilities and platforms for student organisations to operate and engage with government.

He also praised the governor for allowing students and youth organisations to express their concerns and engage with the government.

Earlier, Patigi said the visit was aimed at establishing a working relationship with the ministry and identifying areas of collaboration that would benefit students across the state.

He said NAKSS was ready to work with the ministry on policies and programmes aimed at improving the academic, social and economic wellbeing of Kwara students.