How can unionism be used for the benefit of students? Members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) learnt the know-how during a visit to the chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Comrade Ayodele Adewale. TOLULOPE OGUNLEYE (HND II Computer Science) reports.
ALL was quiet at the secretariat of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State last Wednesday during a visit by some students union leaders. About 10:30pm, members of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) Students’ Union Government (SUG) arrived at the council to keep an appointment with the chairman, Comrade Ayodele Adewale.
As he relaxed in his modest office after a busy day, the students knocked on the door. As they filed in, Adewale jumped up from his swivel chair and extended his hand to receive the visitors.
With a broad smile, the council chairman told his guests to sit; then, the conversation began. Fondly called Mayor, Adewale is one of the youthful council chairmen in the state.
Being a former students’ union president, Adewale is seen as a mentor and source of wisdom by the visiting union leaders who came learn ways to deploy unionism towards improving the welfare of students and staff of their institution.
On why the union chose Amuwo Odofin council chairman to mentor its members, the SUG President, Olanrewaju Balogun, said Adewale had impacted on the lives of the people of the council and engendered positive values since his days as a students’ union president at the Lagos State University (LASU).
Olanrewaju said the council chief was the students’ choice because he is experienced in students’ movement and national politics.
Speaking on how to lead people, Adewale noted that he remained a leftist ideologue, saying that the only way to liberate the people was to advocate for positive change. He said the best way to liberate the masses from the shackles of poverty was to contest for an elective post in government to acquire the power to bring the change needed in the society.
On how to cope with distraction and complaints from people being led, Adewale said human beings are insatiable, adding: “The best you can do in such situation is to pursue the agenda of the majority and satisfy your conscience.”
Explaining the challenges of students’ unionism, he said therwe were little resources at union leaders’ disposal to work with, noting that the best way to succeed was to engage people of like minds to achieve the change students wanted.
Dwelling on challenges facing unionism, Adewale said the use of protest to call attention of the authorities to students’ plight was outdated, saying protest is the last stage of negotiation.
He emphasised the use of propaganda to promote students’ opinion, adding: “You must envision your mind because with propaganda you can gain people’s mind.”
He advised the students’ leaders to be focused, saying challenges surface at every level of life, “but if you remain focused, you will achieve your aim.”
Given his demanding job, one of the students asked how Adewale relaxed. The council chairman responded: “Relaxation is relative; some people relax with a bottle of beer, some do it with ladies while others go to clubs to unwind. As for me, I like spending my time with people like you.”
Admonishing the youth to dream for greatness, Adewale said if anyone wanted to be great in life, he must make a sacrifice.
“You must have a good vision to be a good leader, because no one sees the vision better than the visioner. Strive to be successful in life and you must know that success has many fathers while failure has none,” he told his guests.
Posted by: TOLULOPE OGUNLEYE
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