25th Memorial of The July 10 Massacre: Great Ife Students' Union Holds Symposium

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By Adedoyin Oguntade and Joy Oludele

The Great Ife's Student Union held a symposium in honour of George Iwelade (Afrika), Eviano Ekeimu, Yemi Ajiteru, Babatunde Oke, and Godfrey Ekpe, who lost their lives in the July 10 massacre in 1999. The symposium was held at Oduduwa Hall on Wednesday, July 10, and the guest speakers were Comrade Lanre (Legacy), Comrade Adeleke Olorunwa (Father Godey), Comrade Osungbade Akeem (AK Wizdom), Comrade Ajayi Kunle (Wizeman), Comrade Sanyaolu Juwon, Comrade Tunde Dairo (Barry Blacky), Comrade Kola Ibrahim (Karl Marx), and Dr. Waheed Sulaimon. The symposium was themed "The Role of the Management, the students, and the People in fighting cultism."

The event started around 12:00 pm with Busari Timileyin (S&T), the Welfare Director elect, giving the opening address. A one-minute silence was observed to honour the fallen heroes. After the OAU anthem was sung, gyration songs were performed. The Master of Ceremony, Alex Ajibola, took over after the anthem was sung again. The speakers were called to the high table. 

The first speaker was Comrade Kola Ibrahim. He posed a question about whether, in the recent age, we have overcome the issues that led to the 1999 massacre. He stated that students must link their demands beyond campus. He spoke about having a very vibrant security committee. This culture is to be sustained. He further stated that what made the Students' Union vibrant during his own time were the ideological organizations on campus. He further spoke about having programs like this symposium to ensure that there's proper education on vibrancy in the school environment.


Professor Anthony Odiwe, ASUU chairman at OAU, was also present at the event. The second speaker was Comrade Adeleke Olorunwa. He spoke about the power that students have: "The strength of the students is the power that they have to get what they want," he said. He also commented on belonging to an ideological organization.

Comrade Adeleye, ASUU Chairman at FUNAAB, was the next person to speak. He explained that OAU is the main base when it comes to unionism and academics. He spoke about how the government's policies are adversely affecting education. On the ways to curb cultism, he spoke about educational campaigns, strengthening security measures, and enforcing policies that have zero tolerance for cultism.

Comrade Ajayi Kunle spoke about three things: liberty, equality, and solidarity. He spoke about a mining operation on campus and how the Students' Union should fight against it.

Osungbade Akeem, while speaking, recounted some cult-like activities that have happened on campus between 2017 and 2024. He explained that one of the roles the management has to play is to maintain an independent Students' Union. The management should stop fraternizing and associating with cult-like individuals on the campus. There should be proper orientation and dissemination of information. He stated that since freshmen have become a target for cultists, the Union should provide proper orientation for freshmen. Student leaders should refrain from using cultural elements during internal conflicts. He talks about some activities that breed cultism.

Dr. Waheed Sulaimon provided a backdrop on how cultism began in Nigeria. He discussed creating anti-cultism campaigns, ideological organizations, and academic clubs. He mentioned his plans to collaborate with the Iwelade family to establish a scholarship for OAU students to conduct researches on cultism. The top three students will likely be awarded at next year's memorial.

Comrade Sanyaolu Juwon highlighted that there is money in the system, but the government does not prioritize students. He emphasized holding the Students' Union accountable.

Comrade Lanre Legacy, the final speaker, expressed joy in seeing students at the symposium during the exam period, upholding the legacy for 25 years. He recounted the events of July 10, 1999, and discussed how government policies have waged war on the people. He provided a detailed analysis of the events from 25 years ago.

To conclude the 25th memorial of the July 10 massacre, awards were presented to the winners of the essay competition themed "Justice, Morality, and the Power of Collective Action: A Stand Against Cultism." The winners, announced by Ogunperi Taofeek, the electoral chairman, were Pelumi Oyegbori as the 2nd runner-up, Isaiah Adepoju as the 1st runner-up, and Tosin Adesokan as the winner.

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