News Room Social media erupted on Wednesday, 20 November, after Jane Pwajok was elected the Student Union Government (SUG) president at the University of Jos (UJ). Many celebrated her as a trailblazer, claiming she was the first woman to hold the position since the institution’s founding in 1975. However, this claim is inaccurate.
Thirty-five years ago, Ene Obi shattered the glass ceiling, becoming UJ’s first female SUG president. In a 2021 interview, she recounted her journey: “I went into student unionism and I went in fully. Eventually, I contested for the student union’s presidency at the University of Jos and became the first female president.” She held the position from 1989 to 1990.
You people should stop this nonsense. You're diminishing the reputation of Unijos that produced its first female President of the Students Union in 1990 (Ene Obi) and first NANS female President in 1995 (Comfort Idika-Ogunye) https://t.co/6fAEIjKe2n
— Great Oracle Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary (@AbdulMahmud01) November 20, 2024
Ms Obi, who later served as the Country Director for ActionAid Nigeria, remains an emblematic figure in the history of student politics. Yet, her achievement had seemingly faded from collective memory.
Jane’s supporters were surprised by the revelation. “We didn’t know,” one fan admitted, highlighting how history often sidelines women’s contributions.
While Jane Pwajok’s achievement as the second female SUG president remains groundbreaking, the narrative surrounding her victory highlights a persistent issue within the union: the lack of effective documentation.
Dear Esteemed Community,
— KANGYANG PWAJOK (@pwajok_jane) November 21, 2024
Upon further investigation, I would like to clarify an earlier statement regarding my time at the University of Jos. While I initially stated that I was the first female SUG President of our great institution, I have since confirmed that I am, in fact,…
This is a developing story
