The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon, has urged Nigerian students not to abandon their tertiary education because of financial hardship, assuring them that the Federal Government is working to create opportunities that can ease the burden on students.

Asefon made the call on Thursday at the Renewed Hope Student Leaders Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme for the North-East Zone.

He stressed that financial difficulties should not force students to give up on their education, noting that the government was introducing interventions aimed at supporting young Nigerians and creating an environment where they can develop their potential.

At the event, Asefon also announced the donation of 25 laptops to outstanding students studying Computer Science and Computer Engineering across tertiary institutions in the North-East.

He explained that the initiative was designed to reward academic excellence while providing students with digital tools that could improve their studies and help them compete in an increasingly technology-driven environment.

According to him, his office had contacted tertiary institutions across the region and requested nominations of students who had distinguished themselves academically in Computer Science and Computer Engineering.

Asefon said the decision to focus on the two disciplines was informed by the difficulties some academically outstanding students face in accessing personal computers despite performing well in their departments.

He noted that providing such students with laptops could further improve their academic performance and create opportunities for them to develop innovative solutions.

The presidential aide said the beneficiaries were selected through their respective institutions to ensure that the laptops reached students who had demonstrated academic excellence and would make productive use of the devices.

He expressed optimism that providing digital resources to talented students could help develop future technology leaders and entrepreneurs.

Asefon linked the intervention to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the administration was committed to creating an enabling environment for young Nigerians to grow and realise their potential.

He said the government’s responsibility was not only to provide immediate assistance but also to support young people with the resources required to build sustainable futures.

The initiative comes amid concerns over the financial pressures facing students and families across the country, with the rising cost of education, accommodation, transportation and other necessities making it increasingly difficult for some young Nigerians to remain in school.

Asefon’s appeal therefore emphasised the need for students to remain committed to their education while taking advantage of available government interventions and opportunities.

He maintained that academic excellence should be recognised and supported, particularly among students who continue to perform well despite limited access to essential learning resources.

The 25-laptop initiative is expected to provide the selected beneficiaries with improved access to digital learning, research and other academic resources as they continue their studies.