The National Association of Nigerian Students has secured local and international scholarships, job opportunities for graduates, and mobility support for its leadership following a strategic meeting between its President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, and the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Kestin Ebimorbowei Pondi.

Afeez, who led the NANS delegation to the engagement, told Pondi that students remain critical stakeholders in nation building and that promoting their welfare is a foremost priority of his administration.

During the meeting, Afeez threw his weight behind Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, pushing back against calls for the federal government to terminate its contract with the company. "Contrary to the calls by certain detractors urging the Federal Government of Nigeria to discontinue the services of and terminate its contract with Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students holds a contrary position and gives full credence to the company and its contributions to national development," he stated.

He described the company as a leading private security firm that has played a significant role in protecting Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure through technology driven pipeline surveillance, asset protection, intelligence support services and comprehensive security operations across the Niger Delta region.

Afeez appealed to Pondi to expand the company's scholarship initiative to accommodate more Nigerian students, arguing that access to quality education and global exposure would equip students with the knowledge and competencies required to compete internationally. He also requested that the company explore employment opportunities for Nigerian graduates beyond its existing support programmes.

Pondi, in his response, commended the NANS leadership and reaffirmed the company's commitment to collaborating with Nigerian students for national development. He noted that Tantita's intelligence led operations and community based security engagement had significantly reduced crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering, resulting in increased crude oil output and improved operational efficiency across key production and export facilities.

He subsequently approved the requests for scholarship support across local and international schemes, job opportunities for graduates, and mobility support for the NANS leadership.