IN order to chart a new course for Nigerian undergraduates and halt the incessant abuse by politicians, who often use students as tools for their political struggle, World Changers International (WCI), in collaboration with Nigerian Universities Education Students' Association, (NUESA), Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, has organised a one-day Student Leadership Workshop for students titled 'Leading for Change.'Targeted at rebuilding individuals and institutions for the long desired change in the country to come, the workshop also dealt extensively on pertinent issues affecting Nigerian students and their quick resort to compromise and violence.Held at the LASU, Faculty of Education hall, recently, the guest speaker, Chief Executive Officer of Mind Trials Limited, Dr. Dokun Adedeji challenged the students to rise up to their responsibility, imbibe the desire for change and shun what he described as fruitless offer of politicians and corrupt leaders who often engage them in all manners of violence to achieve their mischievous political ambitions.He reminded those, who often fall prey to the perpetrators of the dangers of trading their future and the detrimental effects that follows suit, challenging them to refocus their mind to meaningful and reasonable thoughts while in school.Adedeji, who maintained that rebuilding Nigeria must start from homes and individuals, stressed that parents must understand their roles while educational and religious institutions must live up to their responsibility. Government, he added, must provide the wherewithal, infrastructure, facilities and also create programmes that will benefit the youths and as well shun every form corruption at all level.His words, 'if activities continue the way they are going at the moment, I tell you, there is no future for Nigerian youths. The life of our leaders and their attitudes generally is not exemplary, they are not leaders in the real sense of it, we need to rebuild our foundation and create programmes that will drive and energise our youths positively.''Nigerian students through their students' union must redefine their standard and refuse to compromise as a unionist, most of them get into it to settle their poverty and navigate their way to politicians, who will always lure them into evil with their wicked offers. Young people should begin to refocus their mind and learn to shun and rebuff such corrupt officers and politicians.'He continued, 'on the other hand, we all are the same, yes' We allow and encourage our corrupt leaders, after criticising them and their actions, when we want to have our launching in the church or do a book launch, we invite them. The change we desire must be driven individually and we must not recognise such people, do not invite them for your programme, ostracise them and show no regard to them. Until we begin to show our disapproval without violence, they won't stop.'However, former Senate President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Agbabiaka Ahmed, who spoke on 'Students Unionism in 21st Century: Problems and Challenges,' through his narratives revealed that lots of factors have eaten deep into the fabric of students unionism, adding that until all these factors are appropriately addressed, students may continue to be cowed by politicians and corrupt leaders.He decried the level of degradation in the psyche of student unionism in the country, maintaining that for success to be achieved union leaders must understand their obligation and have ideological belief.'Revolution starts from institutions, and students must know the reason for their struggles. Student unionism is not a social gathering or gathering of miscreants, it is a revolutionary movement, as a leader your mandate is sacrosanct, think ahead of others and do not allow anybody to cow you,' he urged.Meanwhile, the President of WCI, Mr. Tim Ayoola Abiodun had earlier in his remark, lamented the unwillingness and ill attitude of Nigerian leaders and youths to make change, adding, 'if this is a social, political or entertainment gathering, I'm sure, our students and guests would fill this hall.' His outburst was apparently as a result of low turnout of participants and invited guests at the event.
Click here to read full news..
