By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) on Thursday held its national convention and elected new executive members that will pilot the affairs of the association for the next one year.

The national convention which took place at the Ogun State Secretariat of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Abeokuta, drew delegates from tertiary institutions across the country and had the National Vice President, Inter Campus and Gender Affairs of NANS, Akinbodunse Sileola Felicia as well as other relevant stakeholders as observers

At the end of the election held amidst tight security provided by the personnel of the Nigerian Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC) and Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Olubodun Olalekan from Ondo State University of Science and Technology, emerged the new NAOSS national president.

Olubodun polled 73 votes to defeat Dare Ogunbanwo from the Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan, who polled 21 votes.

Announcing the results of the election, the Convention Chairman and Returning Officer for the election, Ogunrombi Gbemileke, explained that a total of 96 delegates were accredited from various institutions of learning in the country, adding the process was unanimously verified and accepted by all Central Planning Committee (CPC)members for the process to kickstart.

He described the conduct of the election as peaceful and commended the delegates for the orderly manner they voted at the convention.

Other newly elected executive members of NAOSS according to Ogunrombi, include Musari Wale from the Ogun State Co-operative College, Vice President 1; Hassan Olamilekan, Sikiru Adetona College of Science and Technology, Omu Ijebu, Vice President 2; Adesanya Peter, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Ago Iwoye, General Secretary and Arikewuyo Feranmi, Federal University of Technology (FUTA) Akure, Public Relations Officer.

Others are Oseni Oluwaseun from Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, who emerged as the Assistant General Secretary 1; Akinsanya Ibrahim, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Assistant General Secretary 2, Ogunsan Joshua, Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Senate President and Ige Jide from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye who emerged as the Clerk.

Ogunrombi, however, said that other offices would be contested and filled at the first Senate sitting of the new executives.

In his acceptance speech, the new NAOSS national president, Olubodun, promised to work for the unity of the association, adding that his administration will resist any attempt to destabilize the association or divide students along political lines.

While reiterating his commitment to good governance and welfare of members, he declared that the new leadership would ensure students’ rights, support educational reforms and foster peace among members.

Olubodun, however, called on the Ogun State Government to make bursary awards for all indigenous students as a priority and establish scholarship schemes for deserving NAOSS members.

“NAOSS will remain a strong, united, and independent voice for all Ogun indigenous students”, he submitted.