Six Months After Elections, OAU Finally Inaugurates Students’ Union Officers 

The authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University on, Tuesday the 8th of March, 2022 finally inaugurated the elected officers of the Great Ife Students’ Union for the 2021/2022 academic session.

Campus Reporter previously published articles on the results of the elections, the circumstances that surrounded the late swearing-in and the inauguration ceremony of the elected union Officers.

The inauguration took place at the Afrika Amphitheatre in the University with the presence of the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Professor Daramola, the University’s Registrar, Mrs Margaret Idowu Omosule, the University’s Librarian Dr Zaccheus Oguntuase, the Dean of Division of Students Affairs, Professor Isiaka Aransi, the University’s Acting Chief Security Officer, Mr Ayantokun, former Union officers as well as representatives from faculties, departments, divisions and units of the University.

The Dean, Division of Students Affairs, Prof. Aransi, while delivering the welcome speech of the event, addressed that the Union officers should be diligent and make proper consultations in order not to make the wrong move during the course of discharging their constitutional duties.

The University Vice-Chancellor charged the newly inaugurated officers to be very professional in the discharge of their duties, having undergone a four-day leadership retreat organised by the University before the inauguration and they should not let personal interests cloud them in making the right decisions.

The Speaker of the Students’ Representative Council of the Union, who was sworn in by the University Vice-Chancellor, admonished the Union officers and members to always consult the Union’s Constitution because every step that must be taken by the Union must be backed by the constitution. Afterwards, the speaker swore in the Members of the Parliament, the Central Executives Council and the Hall Executives Council.

The newly inaugurated Students’ Union President, Olayiwola Folahan Festus, popularly known as Reform, reminisced on the last inauguration of the Union. In his speech, he emphasised student welfare which includes health, academic, accommodation, transportation, cost of basic needs amongst others and security such as zero tolerance for cultism and assault and sexual harassment.

Certificates of service were presented by the Dean, Division of Students’ Affairs, to students who served as members of the Electoral Commission and Electoral Petition of the election that brought in the newly inaugurated Students’ Union Officers.