In recent times, student unionism has been given high level of prominence in Nigeria, based on the fact that youths are seen as the "leaders of tomorrow". People perceive it as an avenue, as well as a training ground for nurturing youths in which they are equipped with various leadership skills, knowledge and experience.
Basically, bringing it down to our higher institutional level, student unionism happens to be an indispensable practice, which serves as a link and channel through which students' requests and grievances are made known to their school managements.
However, over the years, student unionism seemed to have gained negative connotations as a result of the irregularities and misconceptions attached to it's practice.
Its no doubt that this widely acclaimed practice have been influenced by divers ideological practices, therefore, obtaining a negative profile which it shouldn't obtain.
The student union government in FUOYE was constituted in the year 2011, but started operation as a statutory body in the year 2017. This was done to establish a mutual rapport, promote unity, and smooth relationship between the students, school management and the government.
Without gainsaying, this body, since the past two years of its existence has done miraculously well in discharging its constitutional duties, coupled with good conducts and morals.
However, its quite disheartening that most SUG members and upcoming aspirants do not have an idea of the primary objectives for which the body was set up, neither do they know the functionalities of the SUG portfolios.
In fact, majority of them don't even care to know, as they are desperately thirsty for power, yet, without any vision in mind. Some are only after the dividends and fame attached to the various seats, while some perceived SUG as a podium to exemplify the theoretical knowledge of politics, since it is also centered on leadership and representativeness.
Students now practice unionism based on the political idiosyncrasies and ideologies which they are exposed to outside school, forgetting that there are clear demarcations between both concepts.
The generally acclaimed politics, which people claim to practice have been influenced by selfishness and self-centeredness. People now practice politics as a result of the dividends and monetary gains attached to it.
The incorporation of this practice into student unionism has greatly watered down the effectiveness, credibility, efficacy, and potency of the involvers, hence, putting the wrong pegs in the wrong holes.
Regrettably enough, some members of the SUG who haven't stayed up to four months in office have started canvassing to either retain their positions or occupy another seat in the Union, come next semester.
The question now is, are they really vision driven and passionate about the portfolios or offices they are handling presently, let alone the one they are aspiring for?
Fuoye need student leaders who are catalyst for social change and not manipulators of interest coupled with morals and behavioural decadence, hence, the need for student union leaders who can help sustain the culture of productivity cannot be overemphasized
Also, if we really want student unionism to take another dimension in terms of positivity in FUOYE, then, we must be ready to jettison what "Mahatma Gandhi" enlisted as leadership destroyers, which includes;
1. Student unionism without principles: more often than not, the moral rules and beliefs which influences and guilds the practice of every association are embedded in their constitution. A deviation from these principles is said to indicate gross indiscipline, which in most cases attracts some penalties as specified in the constitution.
2. Pleasure without conscience: just like I said earlier on that student unionism is in most cases being driven by selfishness and self-centeredness, some of the students who practices it are only after the fame, enjoyment so to say and the financial monuments attached to the venture. This makes them lack the knowledge and the functionalities of the offices they oversee. This should be totally jettisoned and replaced with self sacrifice and the zeal to make a difference.
3. Wealth without work: many students have perceived being a member of the SUG is an avenue and a golden opportunity to accumulate wealth. This kind of mindset should be wiped off the minds of students. The eradication of such notion can probably be achieved if the entitlements attached to the various portfolios are maximally reduced.
4. Knowledge without character: students should be made to understand that good academic performance is not the only criteria for a successful leadership endeavor. Rather, good morals and conducts are very essential key virtues for a successful leadership career. However, there is a meeting point for both virtues.
Therefore, once the above outlined pitfalls are avoided, FUOYE current and aspiring student leaders must endeavor to imbibe the following factors;
1. Creativity: they must possess the ability to generate new ideas that are capable of impacting the generality of FUOYE students positively. For some of the current executives, aspiring for other posts in the Union, they must dim it fit to be committed to their current responsibilities and not to be swayed away by the wind of their future ambitions. Good ideas must be made know and not saving the ideas till when they assume higher offices in the Union before they are executed.
2. Builders: FUOYE student union leaders must be building leaders and formulators of good cultures for productivity and progress. It should also be noteworthy that the effectiveness of a leader is not dependent on the physique of the leader but rather, primarily dependent on his ability to impact and influence lives positively.
3. Sustainer of culture: FUOYE student leaders must always be ready to sustain the culture of productivity, good conducts and behavioural pattern, not those who rent the fabrics of good culture apart.
4. Agent of change: the student leaders must try as much as possible to constantly bring about good changes to avoid stagnation and unnecessary redundancy.
Finally, since the student union government happens to be the mouthpiece as well as an intermediary between the university management and the students, they should not see themselves as mere students but as representatives and advocators, standing the gap for FUOYE students. They must believe in themselves by having a deep conviction of their calling. They must be passionate in carrying out assignments by beating the alarm clock. They must also have the love of students at heart, hence, possessing the capacity to go alone, even in the face of animosities. They must always be ready to create a vision that will outlive the current generation.
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