Students’ Unionism is in a period of serious trials! We are in an era where the ideas and ideals of Students Unionism are facing a trajectory that puts them in serious doubts in the hearts and activities of not only students, but in the face of the general public.
Students’ Unionism is now related with everything against its good old history. From the Faculties to the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS,) we have left the era of ‘All things bright and beautiful ‘ to a period where commercialisation and distortions have become the order of the day.
From generations to generations, the students movement is in a reactionary era that have fully called to questioning whether students unions should exist anymore or not.
But it’s joy today that the Great Ife Students Union is still balling, even though we have, like the current Brazilians in football, lost our Jogo Bonitos!
So, I join all Great Ife to commemorate the July 10, and salute the history of Akin Iwilade and others. Their sacrifices were not only significant, but the beginning of a history of tragedies that has now become parts and parcels of our daily lives. From cultist violences to mass kidnappings; the Nigerian society is living on a nuclear bombing that has made everyone not just afraid, but waiting and praying never to be next victim.
I will be speaking to the topic in a jiffy!
First, we do not need to redefining the students movement and Unionism. We need to rebuilding the ideas and ideas that have helped to write the great history we are all boasting of today. Where are our ideological groups today? Where are our Sister Unions and what are their activities today?
I follow the Great Ife Students Union, and recently saw that our Social media pages were only being used to broadcast Church programs. While I am not against religion, let me say that it is one way with which our unions were weakened. A union should be for all,and not a particular religion.
Also, what are the agitations to protect students who live outside campus? How are we making sure that these students participate often in union activities, instead of cult activities?
And let me conclude without boring us with the heaves of problems. In all of the history of Afrika and others, one thing that is very sure is that some of the ideals Afrika stood for are now being celebrated. Just this week, the Ugandan Supreme Court banned wigs and gowns in court, and stopped lawyers from bowing anymore. That’s one of the ideals Afrika fought for; decolonizing the minds of the African intellectual. 27 years after, those ideals are well respected now.
I thereby call on all Great Ife to start decolonizing our minds. We must start returning to the era where students query everything, and also set great agenda for the future.
Cultism today only breed strong guys without strong ideas and ideals. This must be drastically questioned. Imagine we have cultists who defend strong ideals today. Nigeria will not be what it is. But the only thing cultists in Nigeria do is to turn one another to games for killing and maiming.
Great Ife has shown that we are different. But we still have a long way to go. We must return to the era of Solidarity, Unity, and Equality. That is the era that will help to fostering collective participation that is active in great ideals. The only way to return to Great Ife of the old and defining the “digital age” is by returning to the ideas that constitute a crucial line of the Great Ife Anthem: ALUTA AGAINST ALL OPPRESSION!
As we remember Afrika and the OAU 5 today, let’s remember that Afrika and others wrote their own history. Now, we have a bigger advantage. The digital era helps us more. Lets write our own history, and let those before and after us say that we have been able to write a history that lives forever!!!
Aluta Continua! Victoria Ascerta!!!
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