UNILAG Students’ Union restoration begins as the university elects new leaders nearly nine years after the union was suspended
The University of Lagos has taken a decisive step toward the restoration of its Students’ Union Government, with the election of new student leaders for the 2025/2026 academic session after nearly nine years of suspension.
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The development was announced in a statement published on Friday, 7 March 2026, on the university’s official website.
The institution said the election produced a new Students’ Union President and General Secretary as part of a structured transition process aimed at fully reinstating the union.
The electoral exercise was coordinated by the Directorate of Student Affairs under the leadership of the Dean, Professor Johnson Agunsoye, and was held at the Common Room of Moremi Hall on the university campus in Lagos.
According to the statement, the officers were elected from among the serving faculty presidents in line with guidelines designed to facilitate a smooth and credible transition toward the UNILAG Students’ Union restoration.
At the end of the exercise, Bolaji Akinpelu of the Faculty of Arts emerged as President with nine votes, while Daniel Solomon of the Faculty of Computing and Informatics was elected General Secretary with nine votes.
Professor Agunsoye said the election fulfilled a commitment made by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, to ensure the return of the Students’ Union Government.
He explained that restoring the union would strengthen student representation and provide a platform for leadership development within the university community.
“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,” Agunsoye said.
The development marks a significant milestone nearly nine years after the university senate dissolved the Students’ Union Government on April 24, 2016, and suspended its constitution indefinitely.
At the time, the university management said the decision followed protests and unrest that disrupted academic activities and threatened stability on campus.
The suspension sparked widespread criticism from student groups and the National Association of Nigerian Students, which staged protests over the rustication of some student leaders involved in demonstrations against poor electricity and water supply on campus.
Student activists had accused the university authorities of stifling students’ voices and limiting their ability to express grievances.
However, the university insisted the move was necessary to restore order and protect academic programmes.
In 2024, Vice-Chancellor Ogunsola assured students and other stakeholders that the administration would work toward reinstating the union, emphasising that student governance plays an important role in building a vibrant academic environment and promoting student welfare.
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The election of the new officers is widely seen as a powerful step in the gradual return of organised student representation at the University of Lagos.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
