We Will Not Take Popular Decisions – Union President

The Students’ Union, University of Ilorin, (UNILORIN) has held the first ever Leadership Training Program in the history of Students’ Unionism on the campus. The President of the students has vowed to employ constructive decisions over popular decisions during his administration. Writes AFIS ODEYEMI (400 LEVEL HISTORY) UNILORIN.

Certainly, student’s unionism has worn a new dimension at the University of Ilorin, (UNILORIN) since the assumption of a revere leader, Comrade Idris Alao the current Students’ Union (S.U) President which evident in his many students structured and youth capacity building programs it has embarked upon. The latest leadership program remained the talk of the town on the campus as a result of the massive turnout recorded at the occasion featuring students from institutions across the country, as well as international students from Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.

The theme of the maiden leadership training program: ‘REDEFINING STUDENTS LEADERSHIP IN THE 21^ST CENTURY’ is particularly targeted at the youth of today in other that they may adjust swiftly to the dynamism of change witnessed around the world which ranged from; politics to economy, infrastructural advancement, social welfare, capacity building among other transformational agendas.

The occasion paraded renown speakers and panelists from far and near including; Nasir Abdulquadri (CEO D-Positive Image Consult), Mr. Toyeeb Godo (CEO, Strategist App), Tochi Okafor (Founder, Inspire Youth Africa), Mike Oladipo (CEO, Heroes World Foundation), Dr. Mahfouz Adedimeji (Director Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin), Mr. Rotimi Olawale (CEO, AGES Media & S.A on Media to Rt. Hon. Razak Atunwa).

Other distinguished resource persons include; Mr. Mustapha Muh’d Jamiu (CEO, Coins Comm. Consult), Dr. Alex Akanmu (Lecturer, Dep. Sci. Ed. Unilorin), Dr. R.G Jimoh, (Lecturer Dep. of Comm. & Info Sci. Unilorin), and Barr. Abdulkareem Alabi.

In his address, Com. Idris Alao envisioned a world where the youth will constitute a larger percentage of world decision making units and the major determinant of wealth of every nation through useful contributions to human capacity building projects the world over. Idris made this call to the youth, particularly the African youth, to brace up to the occasion of change being observed globally; adding that: “So much hopes lie on the African youth as the world looks up to our continent. It has been projected that African youth will make up one-quarter of the world’s population by 2025 and half of the world’s youth population in 2040. This is a clarion call to action for all of us to bring and effect the much-needed change on our fatherland ahead of 2040.” This he said, remained imperative especially at a time like this when the world celebrates African Youth Day and International Students Day this November. “In a bid to commemorate this occasion, the Students Union, University of Ilorin plans to hold a panel session that will center on key issues affecting the youth particularly in the government of their country in other that they may key into the internalization drive through the Intra-Africa Study abroad which the University of Ilorin has already keyed into.”

Alao took a quick swipe at what ‘Leadership; as an art of learning’ entails, he noted that leadership has become an art to learn and a profession to join. Within this context, he believes student leadership has moved a step ahead from the usual conventional cliché of Aluta. “Leadership is far beyond having ordinary ambition to hold a political office, but zeal to effect ‘positive change’ is required.”

“As leaders, it is expected that we imbibe these traits, internalize them to meet the yearnings and equally fulfill the aspirations of our members”, he added.

Com. Idris however reiterated the place of Unilorin Students’ Union within the confines of Nigeria; saying: “Campus leadership in the university has taken a new dimension. The better by far status we enjoy among other unions is crystal clear in the quality of our programs which has become a reference point in other Nigeria institutions. From the Northern and Southern part of the country, we’ve received commendations and just recently, the National Leadership of NANS (National Association of Nigerian Students) was advised to learn leadership lessons from the Unilorin Students’ Union. Undoubtedly, we are a reflection of the good work and transformative leadership of all student associations in the University.” He thereby pledged empathy as a guiding principle of his administration while adding that: “We are not taking popular decisions because majority is not a yardstick to ascertain truth. Rather, we prefer to take honest decisions and shall continue to extend our hands of fellowship to you as we collectively take this union to enviable heights. I once again invite you to join us as we set to redefine student leadership in our century.”

Delivering the opening remarks, the Dean Students Affairs (DSA) of the University, Professor Yomi Omotesho has said every student is a leader in his/her own right and as leaders it is expected of them to serve diligently. He commended the Alao led administration for taking the unusual initiative of organizing the training summit which is first in the history of students’ unionism on the campus, saying: “Leadership is very crucial to the success of any organization of a country including her institutions. As leaders, you must continue to learn and the more you learn and know, the more you know you don’t know and that your knowledge is only but a tiny spec in the universe of knowledge.”

Speaking also at the event Mr. Nasir Abdulquadri, CEO D-Positive Image Consult in his speech observes that Nigeria is in great crises and look forward to the youth for her ultimate salvation. “As future leaders, you must know from today that leadership confers responsibility and service. If you must be a leader, you must take responsibility for others. The moment you decide to take responsibility for others then you are a leader, and what defines a leader is not how much you take but how much you give.”

The second guest speaker and Director, Centre for Peace and strategic Studies, Unilorin, Dr. Mahfouz Adedimeji, spoke on ‘Aloha Unionism; Strategizing for Effective Conflict Management’. The Don of English Language has assured that: “Leadership is everything and a leadership program that is targeted on the leaders of today and tomorrow cannot but be commendable. So weather you love it or you live it, you live it or you believe it, what account for the condition of Nigeria toady which is a microscopic of Africa is youth leadership. The trouble of Nigeria is simply and squarely a theory of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character but the Nigerian problem is the unwillingness and inability of the leaders to rise to the responsibility and to the challenges of personal examples has informed our sense of leadership today.”

Also, another guest speaker and CEO, Strategist App, Mr. Toyeeb Godo took the audience through his background experience as a growing youth on the street of Lagos. Although, now a citizen of Spain and a successful strategic expert in the United States of America, Mr. Godo recapped on the many challenges confronting an average youth. In his words: “The reason why the youth are not successful is because they have no access to great information’s; whereas, information rules the world. If you must be a success in what you do you must learn and acquire knowledge on how to grow from being a local figure to an international phenomenon. Information is knowledge and the quality of information at your disposal determines the quality of your life.”

Speaking also to the gathering, Mr. Mike Oladipo, CEO, Heroes World Foundation reveals the true features of a good leader. To him, a true leader has got great vision and his vision determines the quality of his leadership. “You must understand that leadership is a combination of two things; character and confidence. Your character measure is key. Integrity alone does not provide result; there have to be a vision. In other to build the compartment in leadership that will bring about the desired transformation the nation requires there has to be a balance between character and confidence”, he insisted.

Dr. Alex Akanmu, a panelist at the occasion is an alumnus of the University of Ilorin and senior lecturer at the department of Science Education was a former Students’ Union President during his undergraduate years on the campus. At the occasion, he charged all youth at the helm of affairs to employ the qualities of good leadership, which is visible through honor. To him: “As leaders you must carry yourself with dignity and honor and having honor is having good quality programs. Once you have programs then you are not an accidental discharge in power. If there is no achievement, if there is no commitment and good programs then you will not attract honor. You must understand why you are coming into power in other to function well there.”

“Leadership is a call to service” were the words of Dr. R.G Jimoh also a senior lecturer, Department of Communication & Information Science, University of Ilorin. To him; to serve and to deliver are the virtues of a true leader.

Dr. Badmus another distinguished panelist and senior lecturer of the Faculty of Agriculture believes leadership is solely a thing of decision. “If Nigeria needs a leader today will anybody recommend you? Are the youth of today ready to lead? Leadership is not about the government, the problem is not about them; it is about you. Mentor people who reason like you and as you are pushing them; you are pushing yourself forward.”

Barrister Abdulkareem Alabi equally advised the youth to live by examples and be ready to account for their actions even long after termination of their tenure. “Learn from true leaders”, he said.

Speaking to our correspondent, Mr. Nissi Joshua, national coordinator, Gemstone Connect, University of Ilorin welcomed the initiative of the newly elected students’ union executives and their leadership programs. He assured confidence in the Alao led administration, saying: “I have always conferred confidence in this government given the quality of her members in the legislative, senate and her judicial arm. I hope to see them sore higher.”

Meanwhile, the Sub-Dean of the Students’ Affairs unit, Dr. A. Yusuf extolled the quality of the Alao Idris administration for living up to expectations. He however counseled the leaders to continue to dish out more youth oriented programs capable of catapulting the institution and Nigeria to enviable height. He praised the guest speaker, Mr. Toyeeb Godo for coming all the way from his base in Spain just to honor his alma-mater, saying: “We appreciate you and we are proud of you.”

Dr. Yusuf noted also that failure remains a thing of the mind. “If your mind has conceived failure, no matter what the body says, failure remains inevitable. Therefore, there is no glory in ever rising but there is much glory in falling and rising again.” He gave procedures on registration for all associations on campus, while urging them to notify the unit of their activities early. “A letter of permission must be issued to the Students’ Affairs unit at least (2) weeks earlier and to be followed with a letter of notification at least (1) week to your event.”

The success of the maiden leadership program is owed to a number of electrifying activities including entertainment which spiced up the event.

Afis Odeyemi, writes from the University of Ilorin.