History Of Ihima Students' Union Vis-a-vis Challenges And Prospects |Comr Isah Amoto Bala
Ihima Students' Union (ISU) is as old as the first students' Union that emanated from Kogi Central Senatorial District.
It came into existence in the year 1959. This is against the earlier believe that the union was established in 1972. All thanks to Comrade Joseph Anivasa, one of the pioneer presidents of the union and the current Ihima Welfare Association (IWA) National president who was at the Grand Finale of the union's 2017 Spelling Bee, quiz and debating competition/Educational Grant held on 29th July 2017 and gave the chronicle of the union to correct the earlier notion.
ISU was originated from Ahmadu Bello University and University of Ilorin. These were the pioneer higher institutions in Nigeria which made these two institutions to be the then National Secretariats.
ISU came up as a need to bring together all Ihima indigenous students learning in various higher institutions across Nigeria. To unite the students together, promote their education and develop the average students of Ihima origin. This gave birth to the motto, "Education for Unity and Development."
Some of the founding members whose names could be recalled are; Late Prof. Peter Asun, Mall. Moshood Umar and other eminent personalities numerous to mention.
Challenges and Prospects: Going Down Memory Lane
After the the idea of the founding fathers materialized into what we now called Ihima Students' Union, there were series of challenges that have bedevilled the union since its establishment.
First was the problem of making Ihima students schooling in various institutions of learning in the 1960s, 1970s down to 1980s and 1990s to see reasons why they should participate in the activities of the union and the first ever programme of the union "Summer School" which was established by the leadership of the union.
The summer school is a programme introduced by the union where those at the higher institutions will organise a temporary form of school during their section break, they were not only teaching the secondary school students but also created an avenue for those studying in various higher institutions to know themselves and have what could be best described as cross fertilization of ideas
As times goes on, more programmes were introduced. A Congress meeting was given birth to where issues of societal interested were raised and discussed, it was so effective that a student of Ihima origin then cannot miss a congress meeting without prior permission as such attract a heavy fine and the idea of electing people into various offices of the union was also birthed.
Another programme that could be described as Land Mark was the execution of an idea raised in a particular Congress meeting. It all centered on how Ihima Students' Union can curtail the then incessant crises emanating from masquerade because of too much people that carry stick after the masquerade, a decision was reached at the union's Congress in 1980s that a masquerade can carry a stick and three other people from his members are only allow to carry stick. This law made by ISU was so effective that no body defied it and no crisis record for that year
With the coming of National Association of Ebira Students (NAES) in 1985, it posed a serious threat to ISU as NAES saw ISU as a rival and always called for it scrap at any given opportunity. ISU was able to meander through this threat and till this very day, ISU is not only existing but also expanding and spreading her tentacles with the introduction of new educational programmes and producing students with foresight and vision who have already taken over societal politics. Prominent to mention are Dr. Philip Salawu, former deputy governor, Kogi State who had served as an executive of the union, Mr. Abdulmalik Abdulkarim, DG Kogi State Bureau of Information Services and Grassroots Sensitisation, he served as a Secretary General of the union, Hon. (Dr) Idris Jimoh Jolly, former deputy PDP State Chairman, Kogi State, just to mention but few.
Another challenge that has really dealt with the union was the then incessant crises in Ihima that started towards the tail end of 2005 and lasted till 2008. This period could be best described as the DARK YEARS of the union, during these period, the then executives of the union were divided along clans, each representing his/her own clan instead of the union and this almost sent the union into extinction. Thank God that He brought Comrade Idris Omuya who brought the union back from her DARK YEARS
The problem of sponsorship of the union's annual programmes (Spelling Bee, Quiz and Debating competition, Talent Hunt and Beauty Pageant) is another challenge that has been a persistence one since the existence of the union as the union's leaders need to go through the nooks and crannies of the society before organising any programme.
The problem of mobility also pose another serious threat, forcing the executives of the union to embark on solidarity trek to execute most of her plans.
The Prospect
With the high standard set by the founding fathers of the Union, the union has seen tremendous achievements since its establishment and more are still in the pipeline.
Being the first students' union in Ebira land is the first ever achievement, then the summer school introduced in 1970s, the curtailing of masquerades crisis in the 1980s. ISU is also the first students' union in Ebira land land to establish Quiz and Debating competition, spelling Bee and talent Hunt and Beauty Pageant.
ISU is the first students' union in Ebira land to come up with a publication when the union published ISU ALMANAC in 1981 which had Adayi Usman Tijani Ozienewo as the chairman of the media team and Col. Zubair (rtd) as one of the members.
The current president of the union, Comrade Isah Amoto Bala is also another achievement of ISU.
He was given a free JAMB form by ISU in 2011 when he authored a book entitled Jungle Justice at the end of his final year in secondary school. He used the JAMB to gain admission in 2012 to study Mass Communication in Kogi State University and by the grace of God, he has graduated early this year.
And finally, the union organised the grand finale of her 2017 Spelling Bee, Quiz and Debating Competition Sponsored by Mr. Abdumalik Abdulkarim, DG Kogi State Bureau of Information and Grassroots Sensitisation on 29th July 2017 where 35 orphans were given scholarships. The programme can be best termed as unprecedented educational programme in the annal history of Ebiraland attended by political appointees, community stakeholders, parents, teachers and school proprietors and it should also be on record that the programme has so far been published and reported by, The Graphic newspaper, The Nation, Tribune, This Day, Daily Trust, Radio Kogi, NTA, and AIT.
The Current Leaderships of the Union are:
HRH. Alh. A. A Ogido, Ohi of Ihima (Grand Patron)
Comrade Joseph Anivasa, IWA National president, (Patron)
Magistrate Femi Seidu, President UAC, Ebogogo, Okene (Patron)
Hon. Jacob Anebe, Former SSA to Kogi State government on Secondary Education (Patron) Barrister Michael Bello (Legal Adviser)
Mrs. H. O Salami, former Principal ICSSS, OCSSO,(Matron)
Mrs. E. A Ozovehe, former principal GGUSS, Oboroke (Matron)
Mrs. G.O Asun, Former Coordinator PHC, Okene (Matron)
The Executives of the Union
Comrade Isah Amoto Bala, President
Comrade Aliyu Shaibu, VP I
Comrade Ahmed Oyiza Bashira- VP II
Comrade Abdulhamid Abdulrashid- Secretary General
Comrade Onivehu Musa Habeeb - Financial Secretary
Comrade Haruna Abdulhamid - DOS I
Comrade Olajide Favour - DOS II
comrade Sanni Soffiya - Director of Welfare
Comrade Asipita Yekini - PRO
Comrade Ismaila Muhammed - Provost Marshal
It came into existence in the year 1959. This is against the earlier believe that the union was established in 1972. All thanks to Comrade Joseph Anivasa, one of the pioneer presidents of the union and the current Ihima Welfare Association (IWA) National president who was at the Grand Finale of the union's 2017 Spelling Bee, quiz and debating competition/Educational Grant held on 29th July 2017 and gave the chronicle of the union to correct the earlier notion.
ISU was originated from Ahmadu Bello University and University of Ilorin. These were the pioneer higher institutions in Nigeria which made these two institutions to be the then National Secretariats.
ISU came up as a need to bring together all Ihima indigenous students learning in various higher institutions across Nigeria. To unite the students together, promote their education and develop the average students of Ihima origin. This gave birth to the motto, "Education for Unity and Development."
Some of the founding members whose names could be recalled are; Late Prof. Peter Asun, Mall. Moshood Umar and other eminent personalities numerous to mention.
Challenges and Prospects: Going Down Memory Lane
After the the idea of the founding fathers materialized into what we now called Ihima Students' Union, there were series of challenges that have bedevilled the union since its establishment.
First was the problem of making Ihima students schooling in various institutions of learning in the 1960s, 1970s down to 1980s and 1990s to see reasons why they should participate in the activities of the union and the first ever programme of the union "Summer School" which was established by the leadership of the union.
The summer school is a programme introduced by the union where those at the higher institutions will organise a temporary form of school during their section break, they were not only teaching the secondary school students but also created an avenue for those studying in various higher institutions to know themselves and have what could be best described as cross fertilization of ideas
As times goes on, more programmes were introduced. A Congress meeting was given birth to where issues of societal interested were raised and discussed, it was so effective that a student of Ihima origin then cannot miss a congress meeting without prior permission as such attract a heavy fine and the idea of electing people into various offices of the union was also birthed.
Another programme that could be described as Land Mark was the execution of an idea raised in a particular Congress meeting. It all centered on how Ihima Students' Union can curtail the then incessant crises emanating from masquerade because of too much people that carry stick after the masquerade, a decision was reached at the union's Congress in 1980s that a masquerade can carry a stick and three other people from his members are only allow to carry stick. This law made by ISU was so effective that no body defied it and no crisis record for that year
With the coming of National Association of Ebira Students (NAES) in 1985, it posed a serious threat to ISU as NAES saw ISU as a rival and always called for it scrap at any given opportunity. ISU was able to meander through this threat and till this very day, ISU is not only existing but also expanding and spreading her tentacles with the introduction of new educational programmes and producing students with foresight and vision who have already taken over societal politics. Prominent to mention are Dr. Philip Salawu, former deputy governor, Kogi State who had served as an executive of the union, Mr. Abdulmalik Abdulkarim, DG Kogi State Bureau of Information Services and Grassroots Sensitisation, he served as a Secretary General of the union, Hon. (Dr) Idris Jimoh Jolly, former deputy PDP State Chairman, Kogi State, just to mention but few.
Another challenge that has really dealt with the union was the then incessant crises in Ihima that started towards the tail end of 2005 and lasted till 2008. This period could be best described as the DARK YEARS of the union, during these period, the then executives of the union were divided along clans, each representing his/her own clan instead of the union and this almost sent the union into extinction. Thank God that He brought Comrade Idris Omuya who brought the union back from her DARK YEARS
The problem of sponsorship of the union's annual programmes (Spelling Bee, Quiz and Debating competition, Talent Hunt and Beauty Pageant) is another challenge that has been a persistence one since the existence of the union as the union's leaders need to go through the nooks and crannies of the society before organising any programme.
The problem of mobility also pose another serious threat, forcing the executives of the union to embark on solidarity trek to execute most of her plans.
The Prospect
With the high standard set by the founding fathers of the Union, the union has seen tremendous achievements since its establishment and more are still in the pipeline.
Being the first students' union in Ebira land is the first ever achievement, then the summer school introduced in 1970s, the curtailing of masquerades crisis in the 1980s. ISU is also the first students' union in Ebira land land to establish Quiz and Debating competition, spelling Bee and talent Hunt and Beauty Pageant.
ISU is the first students' union in Ebira land to come up with a publication when the union published ISU ALMANAC in 1981 which had Adayi Usman Tijani Ozienewo as the chairman of the media team and Col. Zubair (rtd) as one of the members.
The current president of the union, Comrade Isah Amoto Bala is also another achievement of ISU.
He was given a free JAMB form by ISU in 2011 when he authored a book entitled Jungle Justice at the end of his final year in secondary school. He used the JAMB to gain admission in 2012 to study Mass Communication in Kogi State University and by the grace of God, he has graduated early this year.
And finally, the union organised the grand finale of her 2017 Spelling Bee, Quiz and Debating Competition Sponsored by Mr. Abdumalik Abdulkarim, DG Kogi State Bureau of Information and Grassroots Sensitisation on 29th July 2017 where 35 orphans were given scholarships. The programme can be best termed as unprecedented educational programme in the annal history of Ebiraland attended by political appointees, community stakeholders, parents, teachers and school proprietors and it should also be on record that the programme has so far been published and reported by, The Graphic newspaper, The Nation, Tribune, This Day, Daily Trust, Radio Kogi, NTA, and AIT.
The Current Leaderships of the Union are:
HRH. Alh. A. A Ogido, Ohi of Ihima (Grand Patron)
Comrade Joseph Anivasa, IWA National president, (Patron)
Magistrate Femi Seidu, President UAC, Ebogogo, Okene (Patron)
Hon. Jacob Anebe, Former SSA to Kogi State government on Secondary Education (Patron) Barrister Michael Bello (Legal Adviser)
Mrs. H. O Salami, former Principal ICSSS, OCSSO,(Matron)
Mrs. E. A Ozovehe, former principal GGUSS, Oboroke (Matron)
Mrs. G.O Asun, Former Coordinator PHC, Okene (Matron)
The Executives of the Union
Comrade Isah Amoto Bala, President
Comrade Aliyu Shaibu, VP I
Comrade Ahmed Oyiza Bashira- VP II
Comrade Abdulhamid Abdulrashid- Secretary General
Comrade Onivehu Musa Habeeb - Financial Secretary
Comrade Haruna Abdulhamid - DOS I
Comrade Olajide Favour - DOS II
comrade Sanni Soffiya - Director of Welfare
Comrade Asipita Yekini - PRO
Comrade Ismaila Muhammed - Provost Marshal
Comments
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: The comments on the blog are the views and opinions of the readers and does not represent that of Confluence Reporters.