By Zainab Sesay
The students’ union of the International Open University last Wednesday met to constitute a new executive to steer the affairs of the body.
The forming of the new executive also witnessed discussions designed to enlighten the students on their roles in nation building. The programme was organised at the IOU building in Kanifing.
Out-going president Al Lamin Sanneh told his peers that for him, the occasion marks a mixture of feelings of “felicity and sadness”.
“…The felicity [is] for serving my university and its students, and the sadness for not being in the forefront again.”
Sanneh said he understands that every journey has a destination and an end. “Today, 27th February 2019, marks the end of our journey, a journey filled with countless stumbling blocks.”
However he said along with “sincere dedication, sacrifice, energy and resource,” they have “enjoyed the most beautiful part of it.” He advised the new executive to continue the good work and told them why leadership is about trust, duty and responsibility.
“It is a set of tools that help leaders to guide their people to their desired destination, and to win by achieving their goals,” the outgoing leader philosophically waxed.
New President Aboubacar M Kujabi, said the day marks the transfer of leadership roles from “great student’s leaders to new and aspiring leaders with difference.”
He accepts that the challenge to lead is not an easy one.
“Like my predecessors, many are called but few on whom additional responsibility is entrusted are chosen to help this great institution to become even greater.”
The IOU country representative, Madam Aminata Jaiteh, told the new leaders they are tasked now with “shaping tomorrow today”.
