- The University of Lagos has restored its Students’ Union Government (SUG) after a nine-year suspension imposed in 2016
- The move marks a significant step toward re-establishing student representation and leadership on campus
- According to the university, the officers were elected from among the current faculty presidents in line with the transition guidelines
The University of Lagos has restored its Students’ Union Government (SUG) after a nine-year suspension, marking a significant step toward the return of formal student representation on campus.
The development was announced in a statement published on the university’s website on Friday, March 6, confirming the election of new student leaders for the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to the statement, the university conducted an election on Friday to produce key officers as part of the transition process leading to the full reinstatement of the union.
The exercise was coordinated by the Directorate of Student Affairs under the leadership of the Dean, Johnson Agunsoye, and was held at the Common Room of Moremi Hall on the institution’s campus.
The university noted that the election involved the current set of faculty presidents, in line with the guidelines set for the transition process aimed at restoring the union’s operations.
“At the end of the exercise, Bolaji Akinpelu of the Faculty of Arts emerged as the President with a total of nine votes while Daniel Solomon of the Faculty of Computing and Informatics was elected General Secretary with nine votes,” the statement read.
Commenting on the exercise, Agunsoye said the election fulfilled a pledge made by the Vice-Chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola, to facilitate the return of the Students’ Union Government.
According to him, the move is intended to strengthen student representation and nurture leadership skills among students.
“The restoration of the union is intended not only to provide a platform for the student population to express their views, but also to prepare students for leadership responsibilities and encourage them to become solution-driven leaders,” he said.
The restoration process comes almost nine years after the university’s Senate dissolved the SUG on April 24, 2016, and suspended its constitution indefinitely.
At the time, the management said the action followed student protests and unrest that disrupted academic activities and threatened peace on campus.
The decision drew criticism from student groups and the National Association of Nigerian Students, which organised protests over the rustication of some student leaders who had taken part in demonstrations against poor electricity and water supply in the institution.
Students accused the university management of stifling their voices and limiting their right to air grievances.
However, the university insisted that the suspension was necessary to restore order and ensure that academic activities continued without disruption.
In 2024, Ogunsola reassured student leaders and stakeholders that steps were being taken to bring back the Students’ Union Government, noting that student governance is essential for promoting student welfare and maintaining a vibrant academic environment.
The emergence of the newly elected officers is widely viewed as a major milestone in the gradual restoration of student leadership and representation at the institution.