LEADERSHIP AND STUDENT UNIONISM, CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SYSTEM
(Prepared in honor of Activist Comrade KAYOMIDE OJO birthday celebration and was delivered by Comr. ADESINA GBENGA I. (NSA) on May 2nd, 2020.)
INTRODUCTION
All honor and appreciation belongs to the almighty for the privilege in living this days in joy and happiness as every sundry present here is celebrating together with my able Leader, Comr. Kayomide Ojo, I pray may this celebration never be the last.
My appreciation is extended to all the leaders in the house, the patriotic Comrades, Young active citizens, Student leaders, and the every personalities celebrating with us here today.
Before I moved to the topic before me today which is “LEADERSHIP AND STUDENT UNIONISM, CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SYSTEM”. I’ll like to unveil little about the biography of the celebrant, Comr. Kayomide Ojo.
KAYOMIDE OJO by name.
Hails from Ijogbo-Ekiti in Ekiti State.
He went to Omoluorogbo grammer School Akure where he have his Secondary Schl Certificate.
He had brief stint in Federal University of Technology Akure studied food science technology before moving to EKSU to study Agric Econs and Extension.
Kayomide’s Portfolio
Kayomide Ojo with the zeal, love, passion and selfless service for the humanitarian has served in various youth/student union, association and organizations such as…
Chief Press Secretary at National Association of Ondo State Student (NAOSS) 2012/14
National President, Progressive Nigerian Youth (PYM) 2014/15
Chairman, Campus Monitoring Committee, at Federation of Ekiti State Student Union (FESSU) 2015/16
Vice President, Ido-Osi L/G Students’. Feb 2015 – April 2016
President, Federation of Ilogbo-Ekiti Student Union (FIESU) 2016-2017
Dir. Of Media and Public at Senate, National Association of Nigerian Student (NANS). 2016-2017
Acting President, Federation of I do/Osi Students’ Union. March 2016 – April 2016.
Served as the southern youth assembly, south west coordinator.. 2015/16..
African Visionary Leaders (AVILA), EKITI state coordinator, 2019-present..
Assembly of progressive youth, Ekiti state coordinator 2019-present…
I think, this is where I’ll stopped talking about today’s celebrants, please let’s celebrate him a with any of our best emoji.
Now moving back to our topic; Pls, I’ll like this segment to be interactive as we’ll be unveiling the mask to the problems facing Student Unionism In Nigeria and of course the way forward.
Firstly, What’s Leadership?
Leadership is the situation whereby a person is directing, coordinating the affairs of sets of people for a particular period of time.
On the other hand, Student Unionism is set up bodies with the sole aim of fighting injustice and any form of opposition to the student of any tertiary institutions. It’s however body leading the affairs of Student Populace in our diverse institutions.
Now talking about the Problems facing this set of people, we’re on the same means the PENANCE that’s affecting the progressive move of Student Unionism in Nigerian.
The first problem I’ll like to talk about is the effect of GODFATHERISM.
My dear cadres and comrades here present, I want you to know that if any leadership administration was subject to the hands of godfathers, he won’t do what he wish but rather follow the guidance of those under the roof calling themselves godfather’s.
Because of our time, I won’t wants to dwell on one point so long.
However, I won’t fail to says this, there’s different between Godfathers and Leaders. Leaders will show you the way and shows you reason for you to also choose such way BUT Godfathers on their part impose decisions on you.
Dear Student Leaders on this platform, any leader that impose his decision on You is no more a leader but rather a raider who has turn himself to godfather to you.
Another problem is Lack of Visions and Capabilities.
Many Student Union Leaders today just saw the position as a place to embezzle student union money or to just to gain popularity, let me tells you if the leader of an administration lack visions and capabilities, it’s so clear that such administration won’t yield anything to recon of.
I’ll likes to be weary due to time.
The next points I’ll like to speaks of is CRITICISM.
Criticism is not a penance to your administration, it’ll rather open your eyes to the lapses you have make.
– HERITAGE
Once you saw criticism as a problem to your administration, you’ll start paraphrasing on such accusations and won’t be progressive, but just take the needed in any accusations allege on you and continuing sailing the ship of your administration.
Another points is INTIMIDATION FROM LECTURER BODIES.
One of the solid stand upon which Comrades are built is intimidation, if as a Comrade, you haven’t for once being intimidated or oppressed, you’re not yet a Comrade brother. Not only lecturer intimidate comrades, even co – comrades, friends, Course mates, some so called stakeholders and the likes, all these a times kills the moral of comradeship in some people but I tells you once you prevail over such, you can proudly called yourself comrades.
The last point I’ll made mentioned is OPPRESSION OF FRATERNITY.
The biggest hardcore that ever befell Student Unionism in Nigeria is the intervention of Fraternity in student unionism.
Let me tells you, this days, Comrades are turning to oppressors in the name of joining fraternity. Gross lot of Student Leaders are running to join fraternity just because he wants to vie for a post in student union, then the threaten will begins for his opponent. Let’s me tells you this, the moment you threaten your co-contestants to drop for you, you’ve already dig your hole.
Due to our time, let’s me moves to the last aspect of this presentations.
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEM FACING LEADERSHIP AND STUDENT UNIONISM IN OUR TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA.
I’ll likes to rush this segment due to our time –
1. Know your potentials:- The best in you can only be actualized if you started doing what you know the best. Once you understand your potentials, then you’ll stop nagging behinds those “come and raids” calling themselves Comrades.
2. Avoid the habit being imposing decision on:- No matter what your leader told you, try follow your heart and listen to your followers above your leaders due to the following two reasons
• No good leaders will impose decisions on you, he’ll just advice you. Even best leaders do help his followers in achieving the best for Hus administration
• Secondly, it’s your follower that needs your help not your leaders, so the only person involved in this situation to consult is those in agony of needing you and not those who’re already gone.
3. Don’t choose leader due to familiarization, behold what he can deliver:– As I said earlier, the outcome of any administration is determined by the capabilities of such leader.
4. Stop seeing Criticism as opposition:- Those who embraced criticism will go extra miles to those who’re weary of being criticized.
5. Comrades are build from intimidation, let’s your encounter becomes your stepping stone.
6. Stop engaging Fraternity in Student Unionism:- Among the top enemy of Student Unionism is Fraternity, so him who join fraternity isn’t needed in student unionism, comrades are not built in intimidating others but in fighting off oppressors as frat. member.
This is where I am going to stop and I’ll likes to entertain 2 or 3 questions.
Let’s me also use this moment to celebrate My Friend, Brother, Mentor and Leader, Comr. Kayomide Ojo on this day of your celebration, keep elevating in progress, My heartiest wishes is extended to you.
Also I’ll likes to appreciate all the cadres and leaders here present, thanks for your time and for the privilege given to me in delivering this speech, thanks to you all..
Once again, I am Comr. Adeshina Gbenga Ifedayo popularly regarded as NSA; The Last Son Of Aluta.
Comr. Edt. Babalola Ademola S. (HERITAGE 🌹)
NSA MEDIA AND PUBLICITY AID
LEADERSHIP & STUDENT UNIONISM, CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
