Politics-Nigeria - Akeem Abiodun Majekobaje is a 400 level student in the department of Geology at the University of Ado Ekiti. He is also the national president, Federation of Ibadan Students Union (FIBSU), he spoke on his involvement in student unionism, the need for the creation of Ibadan state, how to sanitize student unionism and his plans for the union.

What is the rationale behind your involvement in student unionism?

I developed interest, basically because I want to fight for and on behalf of students. Students are been denied their rights and privileges in the society, and this propelled me. To ensure that indigenous associations like FIBSU are recognized in the society, and to use the platform to contribute my quota to the educational, political and socio-cultural development of the society. Lastly I joined FIBSU because I want peace and unity to reign among students.

What challenges did you face during FIBSU election?

The first challenge was the issue of stakeholders, some people who paraded themselves as stakeholders but they only intended to jeopardize our efforts, but thank God. The second is the issue of mobilization and finance to convince delegates on what I have for them. FIBSU election is by delegates, I had to travel to various schools. We thank God, but students' unionism is not a child's play.

Doesn't your involvement in unionism affect your academic performance?

From Ado Ekiti to Ibadan to and fro on monthly basis for our national monthly congress, it has not been easy, but thank God, this is not affecting my performance negatively because I had planned for it. Before you think of involvement in anything even in business as a student, as departmental representatives talk less of a national president of a widely known association like ours, you need to asses yourself. I am still maintaining my position as one of the three best students in my department, Geology. This outstanding performance has earned me a lot of scholarships, such as the Oyo state scholarship 2008/2009, society of exploration geo-physics scholarship 2007/2008, Ibadan foundation scholarship 2008/2009 among others.

What have you achieved since your inauguration?

We came on board in April 2010 and since then we have been doing one programme or the other to improve the lot of our members. We facilitated the payment of Egbeda, Ona Ara and Ibadan North East local government councils. Our role in the payment of scholarships to 20 students by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) is second to none. We organized the maiden edition of Ibadan students carnival in collaboration with CCII, first Ibadan students summit, the colorful FIBSU 55th anniversary, proper recognition of the union by the press and corporate bodies, and visitation to various schools such as the University of Ilorin, Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, the Polytechnic Ibadan, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, University of Ibadan, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, School of Hygiene among others. These are done for the welfare of our members.

What are you doing as a body on the actualization of Ibadan state?

We are praying and working assiduously to ensure that the long awaiting Ibadan state is actualized. The creation of Ibadan state is paramount and this necessitated the theme of our recently held FIBSU 55th anniversary themed "Towards the new Ibadan state: Our roles as sons and daughters of the soil. We believe creation of state is categorically imperative for political empowerment, job creation and national reconstruction that is why we are agitating in an organised manner to make it a reality. We have convened a national meeting, we deliberated on the new strategies in meeting traditional rulers, representatives, politicians, corporate bodies, to ensure it comes to pass. I commend the chairman of the committee on Ibadan state creation Chief Bayo Oyero on the wonderful job his committee is doing to make it a reality.

What are your future plans for the union?

We are planning to embark on a FIBSU national tour to the schools in the north. In fact we will soon visit University of Jos, University of Abuja, FUT Minna, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; we want them to have a sense of belonging and to tell them what it takes to identify with this kind of association most especially in the periods of distress. We are also planning a career talk for secondary school students; motivational speakers will grace the event, a health awareness programme, and community development projects are also part of our plans before we leave the office.

Student leaders have been accused to be thugs, and cultists, how can we sanitize student unionism in Nigeria?

We need to have a rethink and a new mindset on what unionism means; it means to serve and not to oppress or intimidate. What it takes to be a student's representative transcends money and hooliganism. Student- leaders need to be well focused, logical, in the pursuit of their demands either from the government or school authorities not just as agents for political manipulation.

Advice for students as the general elections draw nearer?

Students should take the bull by the horn; they need to first register, and vote during the elections and not be used by politicians as political thieves, this will give us the chance to elect student-friendly representatives in 2011 and beyond. I enjoin the people to come out en mass and exercise their rights during the voters' registration and general elections to choose credible leaders whom the welfare of the people of Ibadan, Oyo state and Nigeria is paramount in their hearts. This is the time we must ensure we elect credible and competent leaders.

Musliudeen Adebayo

Daily Trust/17/02/2011