The University of Lagos has restored its Students’ Union Government (SUG) after a nine-year suspension and elected new student leaders for the 2025/2026 academic session.
In a statement issued by the institution and shared on its official platforms, the university disclosed that an election was conducted on Friday, March 6, 2026, to pave the way for the full return of the union. The poll, coordinated by the Directorate of Student Affairs led by the Dean, Professor Johnson Agunsoye, was held at the Common Room of Moremi Hall on the university’s Akoka campus.
The management explained that the new officers were chosen from among the current faculty presidents, in line with guidelines for the transition process toward restoring the SUG. At the end of the exercise, Bolaji Akinpelu of the Faculty of Arts emerged as Students’ Union President with nine votes, while Daniel Solomon of the Faculty of Computing and Informatics was elected General Secretary, also with nine votes.
Speaking after the election, Professor Agunsoye described the process as the fulfilment of a promise by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, to bring back structured student representation on campus. He noted that the restoration of the union is intended to provide a formal platform for students to express their views, develop leadership skills and become solution-driven leaders within and beyond the university community.
The development comes almost nine years after the university senate dissolved the Students’ Union Government on April 24, 2016, and suspended its constitution indefinitely following protests that disrupted academic activities. At the time, student groups and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had criticised the decision, accusing the institution of clamping down on student activism and the right to protest over welfare issues such as electricity and water supply.
With the latest move, stakeholders see the election of the new officers as a major milestone in reopening formal channels for engagement between the university management and the student body. The restored union is expected to begin full operations ahead of the 2025/2026 academic session, with students expressing optimism that the new leadership will prioritise welfare, inclusion and constructive dialogue on campus.
