FOGSU Leadership Summit: Past Leaders Chart Path Forward for the Future of Student Unionism
In a historic gathering that brought together generations of student leaders, the Federation of Ogbomoso Students’ Union (FOGSU) National Council held its maiden Leadership Summit on the 23rd of April, 2025, at the Ogbomoso Town Hall, Oja-Igbo.
Themed “FOGSU of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” the summit featured a thought-provoking panel session that reunited former Presidents and Vice Presidents of the student body in a dynamic conversation on leadership, legacy, and the future of FOGSU.
The panel session was co-moderated by Comrade Joshua Ojo Aderemi (General Secretary, 2016), and Comrade Ajadi Isaac (Chapter President, 2017/2018, FOSSU National Senate President, 2019, both of whom guided the discourse with insight and poise.
The distinguished panelists are:
1. Comrade Oloyede Olusoji John (National President, 2013),
2. Comrade Idowu Oluwafemi (National President, 2017),
3. Comrade Ojeniran Oluwaseun (Vice President, 2014),
4. Comrade Ogunsola Kayode (Senate President, 2015),
5. Comrade Okediji Adedayo (Senate President, 2019),
6. Comrade Yinusa Jamiu Olayinka (FORSU President, 2013),
7. Comrade Alao Oluwasegun (Lautech Chapter President, 2016),
Each panelist—renowned for their past leadership roles as Presidents, Vice Presidents – shared deeply nostalgic memories of their time in office, recounting pivotal moments, challenges, and victories that shaped the union’s history. Their reflections offered not just a walk down memory lane but also served as a foundation for rich and practical suggestions to reposition the once-formidable student union.
A recurring theme in the discussion was the need for continuity, mentorship, and institutional memory. One of the major ideas unanimously agreed upon by the panelists was the institutionalization of a FOGSU Alumni Network. Such a structure, they opined, would provide a sustainable platform for regular engagement between past and present leaders, fostering mentorship, knowledge transfer, and united action on pressing student and community issues.
In his remarks, Comrade Aare Atiba Blessing, the current President of FOGSU, expressed deep appreciation for the wealth of ideas shared. He pledged on behalf of his executive council to actively pursue the implementation of these suggestions and work collaboratively with other arms of FOGSU to restore the association’s glory as a respected pressure group without compromising their personal academic excellence in their various campuses.
The summit marks a pivotal moment in the history of FOGSU, not only for its rich exchange of intergenerational perspectives but also for setting a precedent of strategic thinking and institutional reflection. It is hoped that this summit becomes a regular tradition to continually shape the future of the union through the wisdom of its past and the energy of its present.
