Student leaders of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) received training in civic advocacy, financial management, the rule of law and ethical leadership on Friday, October 23, 2026, as the university’s Annual Student Leaders’ Retreat continued at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The four-day retreat, which commenced on Thursday, October 22, and closed on Sunday, October 25, 2026, is designed to equip student representatives with the knowledge, practical skills and ethical principles required for effective representation, responsible decision-making and accountable leadership.
Organised under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, the programme brought together experienced facilitators and resource persons from leadership development, civic advocacy, law, entrepreneurship, institutional administration and mental health practice to engage participants on the demands of student leadership.
First Day Features Arrival and Tour of Presidential Library Complex
Activities commenced on Thursday, October 22, with the arrival of participants at the retreat venue, followed by a guided tour of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Museum and Zoo.
The visit offered the student leaders an opportunity to explore the historical, educational and cultural resources of the complex and reflect on aspects of Nigeria’s political history and leadership experience ahead of the formal training sessions.
The museum tour featured exhibits documenting the life and times of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, including aspects of his childhood, military career, imprisonment and public service. The visit provided a historical context for the leadership development programme, which formally commenced the following day.
Vice-Chancellor Urges Student Leaders to Lead with Integrity
The formal programme commenced at the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI) on Friday with an introduction to the Institute’s history, vision, mission and core values by its Deputy Director and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Samuel Adedeji Daramola. He explained the Institute’s focus on addressing leadership challenges in Africa through specialised training and the exchange of best practices.
Professor Daramola identified diversity management, mediation and peacebuilding, and impact leadership for women and young people among the Institute’s areas of focus.
He commended UNILAG for returning to the Institute for the second consecutive year, following the participation of the first cohort of student leaders in 2025.
Drawing on his experiences as a student leader and parliamentarian at Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo, and the University of Jos during the 1980s, he encouraged participants to remain committed to service and personal development despite the challenges associated with leadership.
In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ogunsola, OON, FAS, emphasised the importance of preparing young people for leadership responsibilities.
She urged the student representatives to act with integrity, lead with purpose and remain conscious of the implications of their decisions for the people they represent.
EiE Nigeria Executive Director Advocates Strategic Dialogue
Comrade Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE Nigeria), challenged participants to use civic engagement and strategic advocacy to influence institutional decisions and achieve meaningful change.
She highlighted the challenges faced by citizens whose concerns are often overlooked and encouraged student leaders to become active participants in shaping their institutions.
Using The Dialogue Toolkit: Six Power Tactics, she explained that effective advocacy requires evidence-based arguments, proper documentation, coalition-building, written demands, strategic timing and responsible public communication.
She encouraged the student representatives to document meetings and agreements, build alliances with relevant stakeholders, communicate their demands clearly and identify the appropriate channels for engaging decision-makers.
Applied to the UNILAG Students’ Union (ULSU), the principles provided a framework for pursuing student interests through constructive dialogue, strategic engagement and accountability.
Entrepreneur Highlights Financial Literacy and Innovation
Entrepreneur and Founder of Student Paddy, a talent management and placement company, and Unispend, a fintech platform he began developing as an undergraduate, Mr. Praise Ifeakor, led a session on financial literacy, debt and spending behaviour.
He encouraged participants to examine their spending habits, recurring financial commitments and decisions that could undermine their financial stability.
Through practical examples and video illustrations, he highlighted the importance of financial discipline, informed decision-making and the development of sound financial habits.
His presentation also highlighted entrepreneurship as a pathway to solving everyday challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions, informed by his work in talent placement and the development of financial technology solutions.
Professor Adewale Olawoyin Explains Legal Responsibilities of Student Leaders
Professor Adewale Olawoyin, a member of the University’s Faculty of Law and Chairman of the UNILAG Students’ Union (ULSU) Constitution Review Committee, examined the legal framework governing student union leadership in a presentation titled “Leading with Purpose Under Law: Student Constitution and the Enabling Law of Student Unionism.”
He emphasised that student leaders must understand the legal and institutional provisions governing their offices and ensure that their decisions comply with applicable laws, constitutions and university regulations.
His presentation examined the relationship between the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, relevant legislation, the UNILAG Act, the Students’ Union Constitution and other institutional regulations.
Participants were also briefed on the legal implications of entering contracts, committing union funds and undertaking financial obligations without proper authorisation.
Professor Olawoyin stressed the importance of transparency, financial accountability and compliance with established procedures, noting that student representatives must understand the limits of their authority when making commitments on behalf of the Union.
The session also addressed student discipline and the right to a fair hearing, with references to relevant judicial decisions, including Garba v. University of Maiduguri (1986) and Esiaga v. University of Calabar (2004).
Participants were encouraged to uphold due process, respect the rights of affected students and ensure that disciplinary decisions are taken by the appropriate authorities in accordance with applicable rules.
The presentation further examined ethical issues associated with student leadership, including conflicts of interest, bribery, abuse of office, cyberbullying and the responsible use of social media.
The Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Muyiwa Johnson Agunsoye, also contributed to discussions on student leadership and union administration, providing additional institutional perspectives on the issues raised.
Former ULSU President Shares Leadership Experience
Mr. Bolaji Akinpelu, a former President of the UNILAG Students’ Union and participant in the retreat’s first cohort in 2025, shared experiences from his time in student leadership.
His presentation focused on managing competing expectations, navigating institutional challenges and applying leadership lessons to practical situations.
The engagement provided participants with an opportunity to learn from a former student representative and reflect on how institutional experience could inform their own leadership decisions.
Dr. Tyoden Charges Student Leaders to Develop Innovative Campus Projects
With his session on Transformation Projects, Dr. Lepan Tyoden, Director of Operations at the International Leadership Foundation and a faculty member of OOLI, charged the student leaders to develop innovative ideas that address campus challenges and contribute to the university’s development.
He emphasised the need to translate such ideas into practical, sustainable projects with clear objectives, defined responsibilities and measurable outcomes.
The session highlighted the importance of setting clear objectives, planning implementation, organising resources and assigning responsibilities. Participants were encouraged to move beyond identifying challenges to developing workable solutions that could deliver tangible benefits to students and the wider university community.
The presentation also connected the retreat’s discussions on advocacy, legal compliance, financial responsibility and ethical leadership with the need to deliver meaningful results.
Mental Well-being Identified as Part of Effective Leadership
Mental health practitioner Uche Aderibigbe delivered the concluding presentation of Friday’s sessions, focusing on personal well-being and its importance in leadership.
The session addressed the pressures associated with balancing academic responsibilities, leadership duties and competing expectations from students and other stakeholders.
Participants were encouraged to recognise the importance of self-awareness, personal well-being and the ability to manage the demands of leadership responsibly.
The presentation concluded a day of intensive engagements aimed at strengthening participants’ understanding of leadership as a responsibility requiring preparation, integrity, accountability and effective decision-making.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Samuel O. Dosunmu
More images at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (Green Legacy Resort)
