Ene Obi: The First Female SUG President of Unijos, 1989
In 1989, Ene Obi made history as the first female president of the Students Union of The University of Jos (Unijos), a position that had been predominantly occupied by males across Nigerian universities.
In an interview with PLAC Beam, Ene Obi recounted that she became a member of the Youth Solidarity on Southern Africa (YUSSAN) during her first year at university, a time when the movement was active during the apartheid era.
Then, in her second year, she ventured into student union politics, not out of personal ambition but rather due to her circumstances and the environment she found herself in.
Ene Obi reflected on why she felt compelled to participate in protests whenever they arose. She participated in her first protest during her first year at the University of Jos, at a time when she was already married.
She recalled her husband remarking, “there’s a protest, and I know you’ll be there,” which made her realize that her husband understood her passion for activism, perhaps even better than she did herself.
Later, Ene Obi contested and won the presidency of the Student Union at the University of Jos, becoming the first female president of the institution.
She recounted that, for her campaign, she simply enlarged her photo, made black-and-white photocopies, and wrote, “Vote Ene Obi for President.” Supporters took it upon themselves to create additional campaign materials, using cardboard to design posters with slogans like “Ene for President.”
It is important to note that was also an active member of Women in Nigeria, one of the country’s foremost feminist organization’s.
She said, “Looking at the lives of people like Gambo Sawaba, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Margaret Ekpo, those great women, I also read about them. I wanted to be educated.”
Speaking on her Student activism experiences, Ene Obi Furthered, “I went to jail. I was kidnapped by the then military government in Jos and taken to Abuja by night. Early morning, I was taken to Lagos at gun point just because we challenged the government to tell them what we felt should be done.”
“And all of the things that we predicted, everything that we had talked about, it all came to pass. So, for me, the struggle for social justice is my life.”
References:
- Plac, & Plac. (2021, November 1). ‘The Struggle for Social Justice is My Life,’ Says Ene Obi – PLAC Beam. PLAC Beam – Spotlighting Civic Space Efforts & Issues. https://placbeam.com/2021/10/29/the-struggle-for-social-justice-is-my-life-says-ene-obi/
- X.com. (n.d.). X (Formerly Twitter). https://x.com/enyantu/status/1859626694241325249?t=pIkeFGktJkQ00xmg1ztKgA&s=19
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