Meet the first UNIBEN female SUG President.

There was excitement at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) when Lauretta Obakpolor was elected the first woman president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG). EZEKIEL EFEOBHOKHAN (500-Level Pharmacy) reports.

A woman has been elected Students’ Union Government (SUG) president for the first time in the history of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

She is Lauretta Obakpolor, a 400-Level Pharmacy student. She beat five other candidates with 2,283 votes to win the coveted position.

Immediately the electoral committee declared her winner, shouts of her name rent the air. Her supporters moved round the campus singing victory songs.

Before the election, many students did not give her a chance.  But, Lauretta played her joker on the Manifesto Day when she unveiled her programmes. Unlike other candidates, her presentation was greeted with applause.

Emeka Onyeji, a final year student of Economics and Statistics, said: “When I heard Lauretta speak for the first time at the manifesto, I knew there was more to the aspiration of this lady than just being a candidate. Immediately she mounted the podium, every word from her wowed the audience. We believed she has good plans for the union. This is why we all voted for her.”

Other candidates were Victor Arigbe of the Faculty of Education; Nelson Ehrauyi (Faculty of Engineering), Efosa Iyekekpolor (Faculty of Education), Godstime Oghogho (College of Medicine) and Leslie Oghama (Faculty of Social Sciences).

A student from the Faculty of Education, who declined to give his name, said the two candidates from his faculty did not deserve to win the election. According to him, Efosa and Victor were over-ambitious, which was why they could not step down for each other.

He said: “We met each of them personally to step down, so that the faculty can produce a single candidate to win the election. They both declined and went ahead to canvass for votes. They divided the votes that could have gone for a single candidate. They did not deserve to win.

“A leader should know when to let down his ego for the common good. If the faculty had voted for a single candidate, that candidate would definitely be the winner of this election. But the faculty was divided so were the votes.”

The union leaders have been sworn in.

Other members of the executive included Sonia Obasuyi, Vice President; Jatto Ovie, General Secretary; John Aigbogun, Attorney General; Elliot Airhuoyuwa, Assistant General Secretary; Glory Odu, Director of Finance and Kelechi Ikotu, Director of Publicity.

Others are Eugene Chukwu, Director of Welfare, Michael Iroegbu, Director of Sports and Precious Enokeran, Director of Socials.

Addressing the union leaders during the inauguration, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Faraday Orumwense, advised them to maintain peace on the campus, saying the development of the school should be the union’s objective.

The VC said: “I congratulate you on your election, but you must know leadership comes with responsibility. In the period of grievances, I will advise you to seek all known channels of dialogue and peaceful resolution. In every decision you take, endeavour to carry your colleagues along.”

In her acceptance speech, Lauretta thanked students for supporting her, despite the campaign against her gender. She promised not to let the students down, vowing to use her mandate for the good of all.

She said: “To all those who are sceptical about a female being a president, I say we have crossed the Rubicon. Those people need to read the Bible and learn about the story of Deborah. This is another Deborah standing in front of you today. I bear the plight of a woman and understand the pains of a man. Leadership is not about gender. I seek the support of all as we take the union to another level.”

The outgone president, Raymond Omorogbe, congratulated his successor, urging the union to sustain peace on the campus.