By Tiamiyu Barakat Bolanle
The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Ibadan on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, held the Honourable Dhikrullah Olajide Stanley Adedeji Odidiomo Students’ Legislative Summit at the International Conference Centre (ICC), University of Ibadan.
The two-day summit, themed “The Service Paradigm: Transforming Mindsets for Service-Driven Leadership in Nigeria”, brought together students, public officials, university representatives and other stakeholders to discuss leadership, public service and the role of young Nigerians in national development.
The event commenced with the rendition of the National Anthem, Oyo State Anthem and University of Ibadan Anthem.
Among those present were members of the Oyo State House of Assembly, representatives of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), members of the University of Ibadan Students’ Representative Council and other invited guests.
The Speaker of the SRC, Rt. Hon. John Oludele, was invited to deliver the welcome address but was unavailable. A financial representative of the SRC subsequently delivered the address on his behalf.
Hon. Dhikrullah Olajide Stanley Adedeji, popularly known as Odidiomo, later delivered the keynote address, where he emphasised the importance of usefulness and problem-solving in public service.
“Public service should not be about who is most prominent; it should be about who is most useful,” he said.
He argued that the true measure of leadership lies in the public service created through the responsible exercise of authority.
Hon. Adedeji urged aspiring leaders to consider their preparedness for public responsibility, the problems they intend to solve, the people who would benefit, the resources required and how outcomes would be measured. He also encouraged them to consider what would remain after they leave office.
He said leadership preparation begins in the classroom and in student leadership, where individuals learn to discharge responsibilities honestly, disagree without destroying relationships and listen to people whose opinions differ from theirs.
“Leadership is ultimately about people,” he said.
He also encouraged University of Ibadan students to prepare themselves for responsibility rather than merely positions, urging them to develop competence, read beyond their academic disciplines and acquire knowledge of technology, government and economics.
He described nation-building as a collective responsibility involving government, citizens, institutions, businesses, universities and communities.
He also commended the SRC for creating a platform for discussions on leadership and public service, expressing hope that ideas generated at the summit would extend beyond the conference and influence the values and actions of future leaders.
Another speaker at the summit focused on the role of technology in shaping the future of young Nigerians.
The speaker, who spoke about his connection with Ibadan, said he grew up in the city and attended Alaafia Nursery School, Mokola, and Methodist High School, Bodija. Describing the students at the summit as the future of the country, he encouraged them to take advantage of available opportunities and acquire relevant technological skills.
“We have found a new gold, a new diamond, a new oil—that is technology,” he said. He encouraged students to familiarise themselves with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and cloud computing, describing technology as an increasingly important part of modern life and work.
He particularly encouraged students to use artificial intelligence as a tool for research and learning, noting its potential to assist university students in accessing information and exploring different subjects.
Drawing from his experience as a programmer, he also discussed the development of technologies such as Unix and Linux and their relationship with modern computing systems.
He explained the concept of cloud computing and how individuals use cloud platforms to store photographs, videos and other digital information.
The speaker also disclosed plans to organise training sessions aimed at exposing students to relevant technological skills. He encouraged students to participate actively in the two-day summit and take advantage of the opportunities and training sessions associated with the programme.
The summit is supposed to provide a platform for students to interact with public officials and other professionals on issues relating to leadership, public service and technological development.
