Student Union: The Bedrock Of Politics

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STUDENT UNION: THE BEDROCK OF POLITICS

Union is any set of political principles based on the idea that two or more political or national units should be joined. Linking this our topic of discourse, Student union is the representation of the entire body of students of the university. 

In history, students’ unions began in 1925 with the establishment of West African Student Union (WASU), initiated by some Nigerian students in London. The first president was a Nigerian, Ladipo Solanke. With formation of the university College, Ibadan in 1948, there were efforts to commence student union and extend its tentacles to other institutions in Nigeria through the formation of National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) in 1956 as the national body. The body inherited the same idealism which affirmed the view that a student union could consistently be a platform for change and for informed activism.

In 1956, a student union began on the campus of university college, Ibadan. The Obafemi Awolowo University formerly known as University of Ife formally opened in 1962 and the character student union emerged the following year which was a function of the historical circumstance within the institution developed. The student Union Obafemi Awolowo University popularly addressed as Great Ife Student Union is the leading and most vibrant student union in Nigeria. The union had past leaders such as Anthony Fashayo, Lanre Legacy, Ola Diamond, Akinola Saburi Deviano, Paul Alaje, Federick Loel, Ibikunle Isaac, and Akande Omotayo.

The student representatives include the President, Vice President, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Welfare Secretary, Public Relations Officer, Treasurer, Sports Director. The general functions of the union, however, is to foster and manage the athletic, social and cultural interests of students and also provide a forum for any other activities of the union. The Union serves as an effective means of training in mature leadership and as a channel of coordination for students’ involvement in the management of the university.

The student union over the years served the student and the university community at large and has always fought for the interest of its students. However, on November 6th 2017, the student union was suspended indefinitely because of political rancor between the executive council and the student union representative council. The suspension which spanned through a duration of 4 years was reinstated earlier this year because of the outcries and agitations from alumnus, students and the university at large. The university therefore took the mantle and recently inaugurated the electoral commissioners and petitioners who have been elected from across all faculties in the university who would serve as acting student representatives and who usher in democratically elected students’ unions. The whole university community is set and waiting to experience a new set of politically inclined individuals who are ready to serve, amplify and relay the interests of the students.

The student’s union has been an incubator for growing politicians and virile administrations in the main stream political arena. The student union movement had overtime re shaped the political careers of many politicians in Nigeria, including Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Kayode Fayemi, Abike Dabiri, Tinubu Oluremi, Seun Fakorede amongst a host of others. It is, therefore, important to note that the essence of student union in a school system cannot be overemphasized it is the best grooming place for politically inclined individuals

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