May Dr. Idoko Happen to Nigeria

Every campus has its heroes.

But once in a while, a leader emerges whose work transcends titles, whose quiet influence shapes generations, and whose legacy reminds us that integrity still breathes in public service.

At the University of Abuja, that man is Dr. Idoko Sunday Idoko, the Dean of Students Affairs — fondly regarded as “the Father of the Student Union Government.”

There was a time when student leadership at UNIABUJA was only a whisper.

The Student Representative Assembly (SRA) had become inactive — a period many described as “the no-student-voice era.”

It was during this period of silence that Dr. Idoko stood tall. As Dean, he advised the then Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Patricia Lanko Mar, to restore the Student Union Government (SUG) and return the students’ democratic voice.

That decision changed everything.

What followed was the rebirth of student representation — one guided by a new constitution, a renewed sense of belonging, and a level playing field that gave every student a chance to shine.

For many of us who witnessed that era, it wasn’t just about the return of elections; it was the return of hope.

Dr. Idoko’s leadership went beyond advocacy. He rolled up his sleeves and worked. Tirelessly.

Today, as one walks across the University’s convocation ground, the transformation is impossible to miss. The beauty, the structure, the sense of order — all tell a story of purposeful leadership.

Who doesn’t love how UNIABUJA looks today?

It is a university reborn under the guidance of leaders who believed that students deserved not only quality education but also an environment that inspires pride.

Dr. Idoko’s commitment to free and fair student elections stands as one of his most defining achievements. He conducted elections without fear or favor — ensuring that no student was disqualified for daring to have a voice. In a time when student politics could easily be swayed by management influence, he stood firm, protecting the sanctity of the process.

No witch-hunting.

No political backstabbing.

No gerrymandering.

Just fairness — pure and simple.

When you step into the new girls’ hostel today, it’s easy to forget what it once was — dimly lit, broken, and neglected. But anyone who saw those halls before the transformation knows the magnitude of what has been achieved.

Someone spoke.

Someone acted.

Someone cared.

And that someone was Dr. Idoko.

His efforts brought not only light but also dignity back to the hostel environment. And at the heart of this rebirth stands an equally committed woman — Mrs. Shola Idoko, the hall administrator and affectionately called “The Discipline Mummy.”

Mrs. Shola Idoko is a leader with the rare blend of firmness and compassion. Her approach to hostel administration has been described by students as motherly but strict.

When a visiting reporter once made a derogatory remark about students, calling them “pigs,” she did not hesitate to defend the UNIABUJA community.

“Our students are beautiful and blessed,” she said firmly.

Her leadership has set a new tone — one where discipline meets dignity. She believes that students deserve not only comfort but also structure, and her collaboration with the Dean’s office has already begun yielding results.

The hostels are now homes — bright, clean, and secure. Students whisper her praises not out of fear, but out of respect.

Dr. Idoko’s vision extends beyond hostel walls. His push for merit and skill-based hall administration, and his facilitation of lights and comfort across the campus, have brought back the spirit of learning.

Even the ETF classrooms and halls, now renovated and vibrant, are testaments to a man who believes that students thrive best in environments that reflect excellence.

As one of his students, I have learned more from Dr. Idoko’s example than from any textbook and animal doctor practicals. He embodies the belief that leadership is not about power, but about purpose; not about position, but about people.

He shows us that building a university community isn’t so different from building a nation — both require vision, discipline, and heart.

And so, I write this not just as a tribute, but as a prayer:

May Dr. Idoko Sunday Idoko happen to Nigeria.

Because if the values he lives by — fairness, integrity, service — could guide our nation’s leaders, then perhaps Nigeria, too, would be reborn.

Prepare yourselves for a new era.

This is not the old hostel you left behind.

It is a place of order, light, and pride — a community where discipline will guide comfort, and where cooperation with the authorities will sustain progress.

UNIABUJA is changing.

And this change, this transformation, began because one man dared to lead differently.

As Nigeria looks to the future, I find myself returning to a single hope — that the same courage that rebuilt our campus will one day rebuild our country.

May leaders like Dr. Idoko Sunday Idoko rise across our nation.

May he happen to Nigeria.