A Season of Relief and Reflection: Students React to Dr. Ogunlade-Anibasa’s Farewell

The recent farewell message from Dr. Ogunlade-Anibasa Grace Oyiza, the former Director of the Centre for Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (CSIWES) and the Centre for Student Employment and Mentoring (CSEM), has stirred a whirlwind of emotions among students at Yakubu Gowon University. Her tenure, marked by a blend of commendable dedication and polarizing policies, came to a close with a heartfelt note that left students grappling with mixed feelings—gratitude, relief, and a simmering frustration that has lingered far too long.

In her message, Dr. Ogunlade-Anibasa expressed gratitude for the opportunity to guide students toward academic and professional excellence. She spoke of being inspired by our resilience and ambition, encouraging us to seize opportunities and strive for greatness. It was a polished goodbye, one that highlighted her pride in serving us. Yet, beneath the eloquence, many students felt a disconnect—a sense that her words, while gracious, glossed over the struggles her leadership had inadvertently fueled.

The announcement that the collection of SIWES logbooks, SES T-shirts, and CSEM handbooks would be halted for a smooth handover was met with a collective sigh of relief. “Finally, students can rest,” one of my coursemates posted on WhatsApp, echoing a sentiment that rippled across campus WhatsApp groups. “She don too do,” another quipped, a pidgin phrase that captured both exhaustion and exasperation. For many, her exit feels like the end of an era—one they’re eager to see fade into memory.

Dr. Ogunlade-Anibasa’s tenure wasn’t without merit. Her efforts to bridge the gap between academia and industry through CSIWES and CSEM were ambitious, and some students thrived under her initiatives. But ambition, unchecked, can breed frustration. Her decision to transform the initially voluntary mentoring scheme—introduced by Nallah as an optional program—into a compulsory undertaking sparked widespread discontent. “There’s no compulsion in mentoring,” a 300-level engineering student argued passionately during a heated discussion in the student union hall.

The mentoring program, in particular, became a lightning rod for criticism. Students questioned why they were forced into roles they weren’t prepared for or interested in. “So because I have a good academic record, they should assign someone’s son to me to mentor?” a fresh graduate lamented. “Anything that doesn’t pay me, I no dey too like am,” he added, his words resonating with peers who felt burdened rather than empowered. The consensus was clear: if mentoring must continue, it should be voluntary, reserved for those with a passion for it—perhaps students boasting a GPA of 4.0 or higher, who’ve demonstrated leadership and academic excellence.

“She show us shege since her days as BIO 101 lecturer,” one student wrote in a viral post, a raw reflection of the toll her policies took. Another remarked, “She been dey forget say eras do come and go,” a poetic jab at her reluctance to evolve with the times. Yet, amid the critiques, there were glimmers of appreciation. “Thank God for Prof. Patricia Manko, this one wey you do sweet me,” a student commented, acknowledging the bittersweet relief of her departure.

As a student leader, I’ve watched these reactions unfold with a keen eye. Dr. Ogunlade-Anibasa’s farewell has exposed a deeper truth: students crave agency in the decisions that shape their lives. For too long, policies like the mandatory mentoring scheme were imposed without consultation, leaving us feeling like pawns in a game we didn’t sign up to play. The frustration isn’t just about her—it’s about a system that too often assumes it knows what’s best for us, without bringing us to the table.

If Yakubu Gowon University is to move forward, the administration must prioritize dialogue. Students aren’t just recipients of decisions; we’re stakeholders with voices that deserve to be heard. Mentoring programs, SIWES initiatives, and career schemes should reflect our input—crafted with us, not for us. Only then can we build a future that truly aligns with our aspirations, rather than one dictated by well-meaning but disconnected leaders. Dr. Ogunlade-Anibasa’s exit is a chance for renewal, but it’s up to us—and those who lead us—to seize it.