In a landmark moment for student representation at Lagos State University, the Lagos State University Students’ Union (LASUSU) on Monday, June 23, 2025, hosted what is officially the first Students’ Union press conference in the history of both LASUSU and the university.
Comrade Joldie Ayomide Adebobola
35th LASUSU President
The historic engagement held at Conference Room 1, Students Arcade Building, LASU Main Campus, Ojo, marked the commencement of LASUSU’s 35th Anniversary Week. The event celebrated the Union’s legacy while outlining its renewed vision for student leadership in the modern era.
Addressing an audience of university officials, alumni, student leaders and members of the press, LASUSU President Comrade Joldie Ayomide Adebobola described the occasion as more than symbolic. He said it represented a bold shift in how the Union tells its story and engages with the world.
“We didn’t come to fill titles. We came to build legacies,” he declared. “And today, we are doing something unprecedented, telling our story on our own terms and inviting others to be part of it.”
Protest Isn’t Enough: Leading with Strategy and Solutions
While reflecting on the theme “Redefining Student Leadership in the 21st Century: Challenges and Prospects,” Comrade Adebobola made it clear that the landscape of student leadership has shifted.
“In today’s digital, demanding, and dynamic world, student leadership must evolve,” he said. “No longer is it enough to chant slogans, lead protests or make speeches. We the 21st-century student leaders must be negotiators, project executors, social thinkers, and guardians of inclusion. We must fight, not just with placards, but with proposals, partnerships, and purpose.”
He stressed that while protest remains a historic part of student unionism, the 21st-century student leader must embrace diplomacy, innovation, and solution-driven engagement. The focus, he added, must move from agitation alone to action, from resistance to results.
A Week Designed with Meaning
This year’s anniversary carries the theme “35 Years of Impact: Preserving the Past, Defining the Future.” According to the President, the programs scheduled for the week reflect not only LASUSU’s history, but its determination to evolve with the times.
From Right to Left: Prof. Abiodun Fatai-Abatan the Acting Dean of Students Affairs LASU, 35th Speaker Rt. Hon Adedeji Adeniyi Akinkunmi, 35th LASUSU Vice President Comrade Ramon Rihanat
The press conference, which opened the celebration, held the sub-theme “Reintroducing LASUSU to the World – 35 Years After.” Tuesday will feature the LASUSU Anniversary Lecture titled “Redefining Student Leadership in the 21st Century: Challenges and Prospects,” with keynote remarks from Norrison Quakers SAN and Professor B. Okuneye.
Wednesday will feature a symbolic football match tagged “Legends vs Future: The Unity Cup,” involving both past and current Union leaders. Thursday will highlight cultural heritage with “Ojude LASU: Our Identity, Our Pride,” a celebration of ethnic diversity and tradition within the university community.
Notable Achievements
The President also spotlighted landmark projects executed under the current administration. These include the construction of sitting arenas at the Faculties of Education and Management Sciences, a digital screenboard at the Faculty of Science, installation of solar-powered lights, the LASUSU Monument, and branded campus billboards.
Newly unveiled and commissioned sitting arena at the Faculties of Education.
Programs such as LASUSU Mindwave (a mental health summit) and Freshers’ Week (featuring orientation events, sports, and pageantry) were designed to enhance student integration and community life.
On the policy front, LASUSU successfully pushed for a reduction of the NUGA fee from ₦10,000 to ₦1,000 and ensured the cancellation of CBT fees for 200 to 400 level students. These moves, the Union said, were essential to student welfare and equity.
Prof. Abiodun Fatai-Abatan giving his remark at the press conference
What Comes Next
Despite its achievements, the Union says it is far from done. Several initiatives are in progress.
These include Ability Unleashed, a program to provide assistive tools like wheelchairs, hearing aids, and glasses to students with disabilities. There is also the upcoming LASUSU Trade Fair, which will showcase student businesses, and a multi-directorate Palliative Scheme designed to support students affected by Nigeria’s current economic challenges.
One of the most anticipated projects is the introduction of the LASUSU Brigade. This structured student unit will support campus safety, event logistics, ceremonial duties, and traffic control. The brigade is intended to reflect the professionalism, discipline, and evolving identity of the Union.
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A Defining Moment for LASU
Comrade Adebobola concluded by calling on media houses, alumni, corporate organizations, and the wider university community to rally behind LASUSU’s mission.
“This is a defining moment not just for LASUSU, but for LASU as a whole,” he said. “For the first time, the Students’ Union is stepping boldly into a space of relevance, visibility, and national importance. This is only the beginning.”
The LASUSU 35th Anniversary Week continues through Thursday, June 27, and Segio Campus Reports will provide daily coverage of each event.