For the first time in over 16 years, an indigene of Abia State has emerged as the National President of the Niger Delta Students Union Government (NIDSUG).
Adighibe Wisdom Ikechukwu, from Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, emerged victorious following a keenly contested, free and fair election held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, marking a historic milestone for the South-East within the Niger Delta student leadership structure.
NIDSUG is the umbrella body of students from the nine Niger Delta states—Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers—including students of Niger Delta origin studying in diaspora institutions. The union was established to protect students’ interests, coordinate activities, promote educational development, and advance the socio-political values of the Niger Delta through leadership training, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, empowerment, and scholarship initiatives.
The union was formally created in 2009 at the instance of the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, through the collaborative efforts of the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), then led by Chief Godday Orubebe and Chief (Dr.) Timi Alaibe respectively. The initiative harmonised previously fragmented Niger Delta student groups into a single body now known as NIDSUG.
The presidential election featured six candidates—three from Akwa Ibom State, two from Abia State, and one from Cross River State. The position was zoned to Zone C, comprising Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States. During the process, two Akwa Ibom candidates stepped down, paving the way for a closely contested race.
The election took place at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Port Harcourt, with each of the nine states producing five delegates, making a total of 45 delegates, alongside zonal Vice Presidents for the West, East, and North.
At the conclusion of the voting, Adighibe Wisdom Ikechukwu polled 24 votes, the highest, and was duly declared elected as National President—becoming the first Abia indigene and the first South-Easterner to occupy the position in nearly two decades.
Reacting to his victory, Adighibe attributed his success to the inspiration drawn from the democratic leadership and education reforms of Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR.
“I attribute my success to the motivation I received from the effective education policies of His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti. He is a democrat, and I went into the election with the belief that the change he delivered in Abia in 2023 could also be replicated within NIDSUG,” he said.
He further outlined his administration’s vision, pledging to actively engage key stakeholders, including the NDDC, Governors of Niger Delta states, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, members of the National Assembly, Vice Chancellors, and other partners to advance the welfare and academic development of Niger Delta students across Nigeria.
