Translating Vision Into Reality: An Overview Of The Journey Of Donatus Okolieuwa From A Regular Student To SUG President In ESUT

Our mind is such a powerful machine that any information fed into it would be produced through our lives. Just like the popular Chinese proverb “if you can think it, you can achieve it.” My journey from being an ordinary regular student to the topmost rank of student leadership in the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT; SUG President, is largely informed by my total belief in and the nurture gotten from the above assertions, and more importantly, the God factor, consistency, and hard work towards protecting the interest of the students and leaving a good legacy.

As posited by John C. Maxwell, “position is the starting place for every level of leadership. It is the bottom floor and the foundation upon which leadership must be built. Real influence must be developed upon that foundation.” Taking up a leadership position as I newly entered the University was very far from my mind, even though I had always had a passion for leadership. Also, I had always believed that I would occupy any of the topmost leadership positions in ESUT before I would graduate from the school. Little did I know that I would be elected the Class Representative of my class; 100 level Law 2019/2020 session. From there, I was equally elected the General Class Rep of all the year one Class Reps. It did not stop there; I was also elected to the school hostel P.R.O. In the same 100 level, the then Dean, Faculty of Law; Prof. Osy-Nnamani Ogbu, equally appointed me a member of the Care-Taker Committee leadership of the Faculty of Law.

Moreover, in my 200 level, I was appointed the Campus Director of the Law Students Association of Nigeria, ESUT chapter, Senior Special Adviser to the SUG President on Students’ Matters. My 300 level was not left without a new position as I contested and won the SUG P.R.O after I stepped down for my senior in the Faculty of Law for the post of SUG President. Furthermore, in my 400 level, I stepped down from Class Rep and contested for the post of SUG President, and for the first time in the history of ESUT, a hosteler won the top seat of the Students Union Government of the school. It was incredible as the election was keenly contested by four popular candidates.

According to John C. Maxwell, your values are the soul of your leadership, and they drive your behavior. My driving force and what distinguishes me in all the positions held are my commitment to protecting the interest of the students, the quest for the advancement of my leadership skills, and the urge to leave a good legacy. These were evident in my commitment to help end the plights of the students living in the school hostel, especially regarding water, light, and safety, starting from my 100 level days. As the SUG President, I vehemently resisted some individuals from NANS Zone F who wanted to shut down ESUT for their selfish interests. I refused to yield to their antics and gave no room for them to scuttle the academic calendar of the University. Another incident was when 34 ESUT students were unjustly arrested at the School Cafeteria by the men of the Nigerian Police Force of the Anti-Cult Unit. I issued a very powerful Press Release that drew the attention of the Government and the students were released immediately and unconditionally. Moreover, my government carried out programs and events wherein scholarships and bursaries were given to our students by the invited personalities.

As Dr. SKC Ogbonnia rightly opined, “the ability to influence an unwilling follower to an enthusiastic follower is the hallmark of effective leadership.” Being one of my top priorities, I worked towards changing the age-long perception of the students living in the school hostel, who were seen as inferior by their counterparts who live off-campus. As the SUG P.R.O then in my 300 level, I appointed some hostelers, including Comr. Nonyia Chisom (Valour), into the SUG senate to represent the hostelers at the parliament. Having made up my mind that I would contest for SUG Presidency, and owing to the fact that it is not a one-man task, I brought the leadership of the hostels together and made them see my agenda as the hostelers’ agenda. Just like Dr. SKC Ogbonnia posited, “every human being has an abundance of talents and capabilities but constantly requires the proper combination of other relevant elements to excel.” With this, we kicked off the awakening campaign within the hostels. The campaign was a blast as it led to my emergence as the SUG President, and another hosteler, Nonyia Chisomlfc Valour, emerged as the SUG SSG. In my government, I made the hostelers occupy strategic positions, not leaving the off-campus students behind. Everybody was given a sense of belonging. Thereafter, I equally ensured that another hosteler succeeded me as the SUG President, and other positions won by the hostelers included SUG VP, SUG SSG, SUG FIN. SEC, and SUG Treasurer.

I could not have achieved all these without God. I always seek the face of God in everything. As the SUG P.R.O then and the highest-ranking student leader in the hostels, I championed a hostel thanksgiving in the churches on the campus. Even as the SUG President, I worked closely with the leadership of the Joint Christians Campus Body (JCCB), and we organized a series of programs and prayers for the students and the University at large.

As I was in class a few days after I handed over to the new SUG President, one of my lecturers in the Faculty of Law, Rev. Sis. Dr. Onuegbulam, approached and asked me how I felt after I handed over. I responded by saying that I feel fulfilled. Just like John C. Maxwell would say, “Leaders are always taking people somewhere… If there is no journey, there is no leadership.” Recounting my leadership journey from my 100 level days, serving in different capacities till my 500 level, being the only SUG President over the years whose tenure was not scuttled via dissolution and devoid of any case of misconduct or misappropriation of students’ funds. Having fought and protected the interest of the students, helped to bring out the best from among the students, safeguarded and helped advance the corporate image of the University in line with the agenda of our digital Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aloysius Michaels Okolie, there comes my fulfillment. Could not write down my numerous achievements here for want of space. However, having sagaciously contained the interest of the students and that of the University without any clash, and at the end being celebrated by both, is the most fulfilling aspect of my leadership.

COMR DONATUS OKOLIEUWA (Dona4All), SUG PRESIDENT, ESUT 2022/2023, FACULTY OF LAW, 500 LEVEL.