FUTA Students Union Government Advised to Embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution

FUTA Students Union Government Advised to Embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution, this was the submission of the founder of St Joseph Halfway, a Non-Governmental Organization saddled with the responsibility of rehabilitating ex-convicts before they are eventually integrated back into the society, Barrister B.J Adaramola at a Two-day leadership retreat.

Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR   has been recommended for students Union Leaders as a very effective tool that can be employed to foster peace in institutions of higher learning across the country. This was the submission of the founder of St Joseph Halfway, a Non-Governmental Organization saddled with the responsibility of rehabilitating ex-convicts before they are eventually integrated back into the society, Barrister B.J Adaramola at a Two-day leadership retreat for Federal University of Technology, Akure Students Union (FUTASU) officials held on Tuesday, 21st March, 2023 at the Banquet hall of the Premium Resort and Hotels, Igbaraoke, Ondo State. 

Barr Adaramola in a lecture titled, “Weathering the Storm of Crisis Situation: The Roles of Student Union Leaders”, said Nigerian students are like every other student worldwide who would naturally protest when their needs are not met. He itemized some of the worrisome consequences of students’ unrest as burning of hostels, school properties, fighting among students, boycotting classes, theft of school property and striking against school administration. He said this could be minimized or avoided completely with the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve crisis involving students and other parties. He reiterated that with great power comes great responsibilities and advised that while students have freedom of movement and association, such rights do not extend to arson or burglary and it’s the responsibility of the union leaders to ensure such don’t happen.

Barr Adaramola urged the leaders to adopt and embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution which must be abided with and followed to the letter whenever there are contentious issues among them or with management or other bodies. According to him, student leaders should operate within their jurisdiction. He charged them that locus standi is very important in all cases. He said code of conduct, rules and regulations and privileges of the officer must be within limit. The legal luminary further said advocacy can be engaged through seminars, Radio programs, writings, concerts, and some of the consequences of student unrest as content.

Addressing the students, Dean Student’s Affairs, Professor Olanrewaju Oke said the decision of the University Management to organize the retreat was to enable FUTASU leaders to add its collective contribution towards FUTA by equipping them for greater task ahead, and to nurture them to become change agents that would reposition FUTA for greater heights. He thanked the University Management for provision and prompt release of funds. He encouraged students present at the retreat to participate fully in all the discussion and activities that had been lined up for them

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji in her address emphasized the significance of the programme saying students leaders should through conduct and character show that they are worthy ambassadors of FUTA.  She said leadership is the brain, institution, passion and momentum of unionism, stating that the moment the direction or orientation is wrong the energy and speed of operation becomes useless.

Professor Oladiji pointed out that crises can be avoided but conflicts are usually inevitable. She stated that crisis comes when conflicts are not properly managed. The Vice Chancellor said  the objective of the retreat was to expose the participants to the principles of best practices in Student Unionism and to also inculcate student’s skills that will enable them fulfil the mandates to deliver the dividends of student democratic processes to their fellow students through good relationship with management staff and the host communities. She commended the Dean of Students, Professor Olarenwaju Oke for the efforts that he and his team put together to organize the retreat.