Obafemi Awolowo University: students helping fellow students

Obafemi Awolowo University Students’ Union has set an unprecedented pace among fellow students unions, spending  N1.6million to pay the school fees for 85 indigent members in the 2014/2015 session.

Emmanuel Ojedokun, the Public Relations Officer of the union told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ile-Ife, that the union was determined to ensure that indigent students do not drop out of school.

He said the scheme was unprecedented in the history of student unionism in the university.

According to him, the radical trend in unionism encompasses total commitment to the superior interest of the students at all time.

He said many brilliant students over the years had dropped out of school due to inability to pay school fees.

“Our union has really made history; we have taken unionism beyond the level of constant confrontation to welfarist concept in which smiles are put on the faces of students irrespective of their status.

“It is that spirit and zeal that spurred us to go out of our way and put smiles on the faces of about 85 indigent students who might have dropped out of the university due to financial predicament.

“It is instructive to note that education remains the right of every child and never a privilege in any way.

“It is our belief that the Federal Government will quickly comply with the 26 per cent recommendation of UNESCO and make education accessible to Nigerian youths,” he said