Comrade Ayodele Adewale, immediate-past executive chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government of Lagos and erstwhile Students’ Union President, University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Sunday received representatives of the leadership of the Faculty of Arts Student’s Association of the school at his political office in Festac Town, Lagos State.
Miss Paulinarh Ogunleye, first female President in the history of the student’s body and Mr. Solomon Emakwu, Public Relations Officer of the Association paid a courtesy visit to Comrade Ayodele to present an award in recognition of his contribution to youth development, leadership and his unrelenting effort to empower young people to become more resilient, relevant, confident and hopeful for a brighter future.
Miss Ogunleye described Comrade Ayodele as a living legend, a youth role model and a leader per excellent whose legacies and impact are still evident not only at their institution but across the country.
Mr. Emakwu, prayed that Comrade Ayodele would be elevated to higher positions were his influence would be felt more nationally.
Responding, Comrade Ayodele Adewale expressed his appreciation for the award given to him and dedicated the award to all student leaders in the country.
He expressed his concern about the current state of student unionism in Nigeria referring them to a statement from Pa Imoudu, the first labour leader in Nigeria and founder of the Nigeria Labour Congress, who stated that the student and youth movement is the breeding ground to produce generations of qualitative leaders. Comrade Ayodele buttressed this point with examples of impactful leaders who had started out as student leaders giving examples such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, Dr Kwame Nkumah, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama and many other freedom fighters who won independence for their countries.
Comrade Ayodele expressed his fervent wish that the university management would allow student unionism to grow and flourish at the citadels of learning as it is an incubator to develop qualitative leaders that would respect the rule of law, shun violence and make meaningful impact in the society.
Comrade Ayodele commended Miss Ogunleye, the longest serving President and members of her executive council in the faculty, and prayed that they follow in the footsteps of many of the great impactful leaders and become the first female elected Governor or even President of Nigeria.
Comrade Ayodele also had a word of advise and encouragement for Mr Emakwu hoping that he would be called back into the Executive to add value gained from his experience to support the new executives by helping the administration run seamlessly. He advised them to be focused in their pursuit for excellence with a goal of doing good works and leaving legacies that will out-live them.