"Revolution is Now," says Sowore at the Great Ife Students' Union Symposium

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By Deborah Adeyemi
The Great Ife Students' Union organised a symposium on 29th April 2025, themed "Reviving the Spirit of Vibrant Unionism." The entire student body of Great Ife gathered at Awo Café, responding to the call to rejuvenate the spirit of unionism and advocate for the rights to which students are entitled.

The symposium commenced at approximately 12:00 PM. Although it was initially scheduled to take place in Ajose Lecture Theatre, it was relocated to Awo Café. The event was moderated by Majeed Lev, with the Students' Union President, Dr Bush, delivering a speech outlining the symposium's purpose: to raise awareness of student rights and foster a sense of activism.
Gift, a graduate of OAU, spoke about the importance of reviving the spirit of unionism. Additionally, Oladipo, a final-year Political Science student, expressed his concerns regarding the decline of the union's influence. He highlighted several issues, including the dormancy of the Public Relations Officer (PRO) position, the lack of genuine lecture-free weeks, the absence of student ID cards, and harassment on campus. The event also featured attendees wearing orange berets, identified as members of the revolutionary faction.


The invited speakers for the symposium included Comrade Olugbenga Oloniniran, Comrade H.T. Soweto, Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu, Comrade Kola Ibrahim, Comrade Tunde Dare, Comrade Adeleke Olorunwa, and Comrade Omoyele Sowore (human rights activist and journalist).

The first speaker, Comrade Olugbenga Oloniniran, addressed the issue of inflated prices of goods and services. He emphasised the need for the Student Union to engage students in face-to-face discussions rather than relying on WhatsApp. He argued that direct engagement is essential for maintaining the trust students have in the Student Union.

The second speaker, Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu, reflected on past lapses in the system, highlighting how these issues have recurred over time.

The third speaker, Comrade Omoyele Sowore, discussed the loans provided to students for their education, which are intended to function as grants. He asserted that these loans are detrimental, leading students into further debt after their time on campus. He called for a revolution, not only on the OAU campus but throughout Nigeria.

The fourth speaker, Comrade H.T. Soweto, focused on Student Unionism and educational rights. He highlighted the importance of students' right to education and opposed the loans that are meant to act as grants. He further underscored the issue of underfunding in education.

The fifth speaker, Comrade Kola Ibrahim, addressed the topic of evolutionary accountability within the students' union. He emphasised the importance of avoiding monotonous decision-making to engage students effectively for the betterment of the union. He proposed that congresses, meetings, and symposiums should be organised to inform students about past actions and future agendas. Additionally, he highlighted that the Union constitution, which serves as the foundation of the student union, should also be held accountable.

The sixth speaker, Comrade Tunde, delivered a solidarity speech. He urged the SU executives to create a platform where students can learn from them and stay informed about campus activities. He further encouraged students to attend congresses and symposiums to enhance their critical thinking and analytical skills.

The final speaker, Comrade Adeleke Olorunwa, focused on student welfare. He cited an example of a protest held on campus that successfully compelled the school management to respond to students' requests.

The symposium concluded with the moderator summarising the key points raised by the speakers, emphasising the call for a spirit of vibrancy and unionism. The Great Ife school anthem was recited, marking the end of the meeting.

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