How Nigerian students are transforming education in UK (1)

The transformative impression of Nigerian college students’ union leaders on UK greater training is profound and spectacular. Their visionary management, deep dedication to scholar illustration, innovation, and cultural variety proceed to form the upper training panorama within the UK, DAMOLA
KOLA-DARE studies

Nigerians are identified to tug their weight and have impression anyplace they discover themselves. Therefore, they compete favourably with their counterparts around the globe and depart lasting legacies worthy of emulation. This underscores why Nigerian college students’ union leaders within the diaspora are remodeling the material of UK greater training by way of management roles of their respective college students’ unions.

Blessed with resilience, a wealthy cultural heritage, and a visionary method to management, these college students are carving out new paths in scholar governance and neighborhood engagement throughout UK universities. Their journey from the colourful lecture rooms of Nigeria to the UK is nothing wanting inspirational. It reveals their dedication and a transparent demonstration of the common enchantment and effectiveness of inclusive, modern management.

By means of their stewardship, these Nigerian college students’ union leaders will not be simply filling positions; they’re spearheading ground-breaking initiatives, driving modern initiatives, and advocating robustly for the enhancement of the coed expertise throughout their respective universities in the UK. They’re champions of sustainability, amplifiers of scholar voices, and pioneers of innovation. Their efforts are enriching the coed neighborhood, encouraging variety, inclusivity, and cultural richness into UK greater training.

From main sustainability initiatives that align with international environmental objectives to fostering a tradition of duty and motion among the many scholar physique, these leaders are on the forefront of championing a sustainable future. Their dedication is clear in initiatives like “Plant a Tree, Save Our Planet” and campaigns for divestment from fossil fuels and arms manufacturing. Such efforts promotes environmental consciousness and the broader societal shift in direction of inexperienced initiatives.

Central to their management ethos is an unwavering dedication to amplifying scholar voices. By means of modern platforms and boards, they guarantee each scholar is heard and their considerations are addressed. The institution of scholar parliaments and advocacy for inclusive insurance policies are only a few examples of their dedication to transcending the boundaries of their campuses and influencing broader instructional insurance policies and practices.

They’re reimagining the coed expertise by way of innovation, from employability workshops to psychological well being campaigns and cultural festivals.They’re creating alternatives for college kids to be taught, develop, and interact, enhancing the tutorial journey and getting ready college students for the challenges of the worldwide market.

On the coronary heart of their management is a profound appreciation for cultural variety and heritage. By means of occasions like “One RGU, Many Nations” and the Black Historical past 12 months Marketing campaign, they rejoice the varied cultures inside the scholar neighborhood, fostering a way of belonging, inclusivity, and unity.

As they proceed to interrupt new grounds, their legacies will little doubt encourage future generations of leaders, inside the UK and globally, to pursue excellence, change, and champion the reason for scholar empowerment and neighborhood engagement.

Uchenna Victor Moses

He’s President, Bolton College students’ Union; College Governor and Trustee, Bolton College students’ Union on the College of Bolton, UK. He stands out as a paradigm of visionary management within the UK’s greater training sector. As President of the College of Bolton’s College students’ Union, he has initiated an period of dynamic development, inclusivity, and innovation. With a wealthy background as a Biochemist (Federal College of Agriculture, Makurdi), Uchenna’s management journey from CEES Help Assets in Abuja to the College of Bolton is a testomony to his dedication to scholar advocacy and campus transformation.

Uchenna’s management is marked by floor breaking initiatives which have considerably elevated the coed expertise. His institution of the Scholar Parliament exemplifies his dedication to fostering democratic ethos and guaranteeing that scholar voices resonate inside the tutorial neighborhood. The Bolton Management Convention, a pioneering occasion he organised, bridged academia with trade insights, that includes key stakeholders just like the Vice Chancellor, Prof. George E. Holmes, and outstanding figures from the federal government and trade sectors. This occasion, together with the strategic “Navigating the UK as an Worldwide Scholar” seminar that includes Toyyib Adewale Adelodun a famend Life Coach and the memorable journey to the UK Parliament, underscored his dedication to broadening scholar horizons.

His environmental marketing campaign, “My Atmosphere and I,” and the landmark Graduate Jobs Marketing campaign, highlighted by an academic journey to the EU Parliament in Brussels, show his ardour for sustainability and profession growth. He has been featured on the Guardian, Bolton Information, UK radio and podcasts for his achievements.

His management journey serves as an inspiring blueprint for future leaders, emphasising the ability of dedication, innovation, and repair in attaining communal and particular person success.

Seun Seidu

He’s Vice President/ Enterprise Expertise and Engineering Faculty Officer and Member of Board of Trustees of Sheffield Hallam College.

Seidu is a graduate of Animal Science from the College of Ibadan(UI). His aptitude for advocacy and illustration was evident all by way of his time in UI the place he served as undertaking lead then later the President of Enactus UI the place he was capable of increase and mentor many high-flying people whereas on the identical time serving because the model ambassador for Unilever.

Exterior of labor, he volunteered for Lagos Meals Financial institution Initiative the place he continued his altruistic endeavours.

In 2022, he moved to the UK to pursue a Grasp’s in Meals and Dietary Sciences at Sheffield Hallam College, Sheffield, the place he took on the duty of being a course rep from his first day in school.

He continues scholar advocacy incomes him the Scholar Voice Award nominations for 2 years in a row, 2023 and 2024 and profitable the award on each events on the college’s organised inspirational scholar award. He at the moment holds the Bronze, Silver and Gold Hallam awards.

He made positive Muslim college students bought sufficient time to wish on Fridays by the technique of timetable adjustment and lobbying with the college. He ended up with getting them an even bigger praying area to accommodate extra Muslim devoted and giving them the avenue to look at their religion and additional foster the inclusivity of the college, this he did, whereas not being a Muslim himself.

Seidu pioneered the primary ever course rep social within the college whereas getting it funded by the college in a bid to understand the reps because the fore runners of scholar voice and advocacy.

He additionally constructed a neighborhood of scholar advocates, whereas guaranteeing that programs are redeveloped with the scholars in thoughts .

He performed the primary ever scholar union officer Diploma Apprenticeship outreach to the diploma apprenticeship college students inside his faculty and gathered precious suggestions which he developed in a paper that was shared throughout the college to rejoice the nationwide Apprenticeship week.

His dedication to amplifying the voices of his friends and advocating for inclusivity for Muslim college students has been exemplary. His dedication to scholar welfare and tutorial excellence shines by way of and is worthy of emulation.

Oluwatoyin Bolajoko

The Scholar President, Training and Welfare of Robert Gordon College, Aberdeen,bought to the UK in 2022 for a Grasp’s programme in Worldwide Advertising. Oluwatoyin graduated prime of her class with a distinction which was motive sufficient for her to launch a profitable worldwide profession within the UK. She determined as an alternative to dedicate a full yr in direction of giving again to the coed neighborhood at RGU by working within the scholar elections which she received in a landslide.

She advocated for a assessment of insurance policies that affected college students’ tutorial development and reassessment durations. This was profitable and led to the reinstatement of some worldwide college students who have been as a consequence of lose their scholar standing as a result of earlier coverage. Collaborating intently with scholar representatives and faculty officers, she gathered suggestions on varied elements of scholar life and directed it to related stakeholders, facilitating tangible options.

To fight meals poverty; one of many main results of the continued cost-of-living disaster, in partnership with the union and an exterior foodbank, she launched three new initiatives (Supper Membership, Meals parcel assortment, and Pizza and Paint) providing college students free meals and emergency meals parcels thrice weekly—a big enhancement from the earlier once-a-week provision.

In her pursuit of an inclusive, equitable scholar neighborhood, she recruited and empowered Equality Champions—scholar volunteers advocating for misrepresented and underrepresented wants. By means of these champions, she established networks supporting student-parents and people with disabilities. Moreover, she superior an initiative to create a Quiet Room on campus for Neurodiverse college students, addressing a longstanding want.

The core of her function is the welfare and development of the scholars she represents. She was, due to this fact, prepared to behave with tact and diplomacy to ship on her promise of a nice scholar expertise at RGU. Management to her is concerning the folks she has cultivated and impressed to be the very best variations of themselves.

As her tenure attracts to a detailed, she stays dedicated to in search of alternatives for management and repair in her future endeavours throughout company, governmental, and non-governmental spheres.

Superior Damilola Olasope

The Scholar Union President  of London Metropolitan College attended Ekiti State College(EKSU), the place he bagged a level in Political Science. He went to the UK for a Grasp’s in Information Analytics.

He’s keen about social justice and equality. He has labored with varied radio stations, elevating consciousness on vital points reminiscent of human rights, home abuse, equality and variety. His advocacy work has earned him recognition, together with the Social Benefit Award for Excellence and the Younger Achievers Award for Excellence in Group Service.

Superior joined the Board of Governors as Scholar Governor in June 2023. He championed the “Dwelling Away from Dwelling Marketing campaign,” geared toward fostering a way of belonging for worldwide college students throughout vital events reminiscent of Christmas, Easter, and Eid. He pioneered the Meals Financial institution Venture on campus to assist college students dealing with meals insecurity, addressing a vital want inside the scholar neighborhood whereas additionally participating with varied college departments to organise inclusive occasions, enhancing the general scholar expertise.

He additionally partnered with the Careers and Employability Providers to broaden employment, volunteering, and internship alternatives for college kids, guaranteeing they might safe graduate-level positions upon finishing their levels.

He efficiently negotiated with the college’s Senior Management Workforce (SLT) to safe London Met hoodies, not solely producing earnings for the Scholar Union but additionally enhancing the scholars’ sense of belonging. This marked the primary income-generating undertaking undertaken by the coed physique previously 10 years.

Positioned inside the sphere of transferring data, he’s devoted to contributing to the expansion and growth of his local people and, on a broader scale, Africa as a complete.

Ebenezer Aniemeka Chiagozia

He’s the Scholar Union President, College of Hull.

He attended College of Lagos(UNILAG)  the place he earned first diploma and Ajayi Crowther College for his Grasp of Enterprise Administration with a concentrate on Administration. Nevertheless, Ebenezer’s thirst for data and ambition didn’t cease there; he ventured to the UK to review advertising administration. Pushed by his ardour for studying, Ebenezer seized the chance to turn out to be the Scholar Union President on the College of Hull. Along with this prestigious function, he serves on the board of trustees and varied committees inside the college and the Scholar Union.

He performed a pivotal function in coordinating actions inside the Sports activities Membership Athletic Union, advocating for sports activities funding, and fostering collaboration between the college and sports activities golf equipment. Furthermore, his efforts in selling volunteering have led to elevated scholar engagement in volunteering initiatives, benefitting each the neighborhood and the scholars concerned.

Recognising the significance of profession growth, Ebenezer has organised profession workshops in collaboration with the college’s profession group, aiding college students to find their profession paths and securing employment alternatives. He stays actively concerned in initiatives geared toward enhancing college students’ prospects.