The Forum of Governing Council Members in Nigeria (FOGOCOM) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), with its National Conference 2026 focusing on political mobilisation, education reforms and the role of governing council members in national development.
Speaking at the conference, Speaker Thomas Babajide said FOGOCOM would provide mandate forms to its members to enable them formally document polling-unit results and return them through designated channels after the election.
He described the initiative as part of the forum’s commitment to ensuring that members actively participate in the political process.
Babajide also announced a formal request to the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to establish a dedicated directorate or subcommittee for governing council members of tertiary institutions.
According to him, the structure would provide an organised platform for members to coordinate civic and mobilisation activities, contribute their institutional experience and participate effectively in PCC programmes.
He further announced that FOGOCOM would pledge a campaign bus to the APC Presidential Campaign Council, describing the proposed contribution as a demonstration of the forum’s organisational capacity, unity and commitment to supporting the council’s activities.
Babajide urged members to return to their respective institutions with renewed commitment to accountability, transparency, quality assurance and institutional development. He also called for stronger collaboration among governing council members, greater support for initiatives that improve access to education, and increased emphasis on research, innovation and responsible utilisation of public resources.
Also speaking, APC chieftain James Faleke urged the governing council members to take the administration’s achievements to their respective communities and polling units as the political campaign gathers momentum.
Faleke particularly highlighted what he described as developments in the education sector, including the absence of nationwide strikes in recent years, support for students from less-privileged backgrounds through the student-loan system and allowances for technical students.
He urged the members to actively communicate these policies to Nigerians, stressing that their participation should go beyond attending conferences to engaging directly with people at the grassroots.
Faleke told the gathering that members should return home with a clear commitment to their respective polling units, saying: “Have it in your mind that you will deliver your polling unit.”
Former Kano State Governor and former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, said the appointment and participation of governing council members from different parts of the country demonstrated the importance of national integration, unity and consensus.
Ganduje described Nigeria’s multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-tribal composition as an advantage that could contribute to national development if the values of the different ethnic groups were properly harnessed.
He commended the organisers of the conference for what he described as their appreciation of President Tinubu’s confidence in them and their commitment to their responsibilities. Ganduje also expressed confidence in the members’ pledge to mobilise support for the APC at the grassroots.
On the APC, Ganduje described the party as the largest political party in Africa and said its strength was reflected in its spread across the country and its presence in different geopolitical zones.
He also pointed to what he described as growing support for Tinubu’s presidential bid.
Ganduje further highlighted the APC’s emphasis on inclusiveness, noting the roles of youths, women and persons with disabilities in governance and political participation. He said governing council members also had an important role to play within the party’s broader political structure.
Speaking on education, Ganduje identified accessibility, affordability and sustainability as major challenges facing Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
He said the student-loan initiative was designed to address affordability and access for students from less-privileged backgrounds.
He also pointed to reforms aimed at making tertiary education more responsive to labour-market demands, including greater emphasis on skills development and entrepreneurship.
The conference brought together members of FOGOCOM, representatives of the Tinubu Support Group, political stakeholders, invited guests and members of the media. Babajide said the forum’s objective was not only political mobilisation but also to strengthen the contribution of governing council members to the development of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
