By: Peter Sonaike

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Professor Peter Olapegba on Monday, July 22, 2024, charged officers and members of the UI Students’ Representative Council to exercise care in their usage of the powers as members of the Legislative Council.

Professor Olapegba made the above remark on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, while receiving officers of the Students’ Representative Council of the University who paid a courtesy visit.

Professor Olapegba in his congratulatory message to the principal officers of the Students’ Representative Council urged the students to ‘be total students by balancing unionism and academic excellence’.

Emphasizing that ‘acquiring knowledge and obtaining certificates’ are their purposes for being in UI, Professor Olapegba charged the visiting UI’SRC members not to deprive their parents the joy of celebrating them at graduation.

Professor Olapegba who affirmed that the University of Ibadan is a world-renowned brand, advised the students’ representatives to defend the brand and not destroy it.

Professor Olapegba said that as students’ leaders, they must be found worthy in character and sound judgement.

He stated that “the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) is expected to check the activities of the Students’ Union Executives constitutionally and not fight or witch hunt them”.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor advised the officers of the SRC to “be careful of being used by career activists and politicians for protests and political ambitions”.

Professor Olapegba explained that leadership is a huge responsibility that should not be taken with levity, while advising the students’ representatives to ensure a peaceful tenure by exhibiting maturity and purposeful student unionism.

“Everything should not be about confrontation, protests, and conflicts, but more of consultation and bringing matters to the table for peaceful resolution,” the Deputy Vice-Chancellor told the visiting UI’SRC members.

The Speaker of the Students’ Representative Council, Opegbemi Matthias Busoye, said the purpose of the visit was to officially introduce officers of the UI’SRC to the management, “to seek guidance, counsel, support, contribution and collaboration”.

Opeyemi Matthias said the main function of the SRC is to represent the interests of the students and to provide solutions to matters within their capacity while others are tabled before the management.

According to the Directorate of Public Communication, the Speaker and the SRC plans to hold legislative workshops, legislative week, SRC summit, award presentation, sanitation services to the University community, and essay competition for the students.

Credit – Directorate of Public Communication, UI.