Yusuf Azeezat Ideraoluwa Assumes Office as NFSAN South-West Coordinator, Pledges Renewed Advocacy for Female Students
By Emmanuel Daniji
Comrade Yusuf Azeezat Ideraoluwa has officially assumed office as the South-West Coordinator of the National Female Students Association of Nigeria (NFSAN), marking the beginning of a new phase of advocacy, service and purposeful leadership for female students across the zone.
Speaking at her inauguration ceremony alongside other newly elected executives, Comrade Yusuf described the moment as more than a transition of leadership, but the start of a renewed commitment to responsibility, service and collective progress for female students in the South-West. She stressed that leadership, in her view, is not defined by position but by the willingness to serve others selflessly.
She paid tribute to the outgoing South-West Coordinator and executives, acknowledging their dedication and sacrifices, which she said had laid a solid foundation for the new administration to build upon.
In her address, the new Coordinator described NFSAN as more than an organisation, but a movement, a safe space and a strong voice for the girl child and female students at all levels of education. She reaffirmed her determination to lead with inclusiveness, integrity and accountability.
Comrade Yusuf outlined a vision of a united, proactive and impactful South-West zone where female students are empowered academically, socially, economically and politically. According to her, her administration will ensure that every voice counts and that advocacy efforts translate into concrete and measurable action.
She disclosed that her leadership will prioritise strengthened collaboration among all South-West states, capacity building and leadership development for female students, sustained advocacy against gender-based violence and discrimination, promotion of female participation in governance, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as the creation of platforms for mentorship, visibility and personal growth.
Addressing fellow executives and state coordinators, Comrade Yusuf called for teamwork, accountability and a sense of urgency in delivering on the association’s mandate, noting that while expectations from female students across the region are high, they remain achievable through collective effort. She assured female students that NFSAN would continue to amplify their voices and create opportunities that support their overall development.
The South-West executive members serving alongside her include Suliyat Opeyemi Tijani as Financial Secretary; Akande Habeebat O. as Public Relations Officer; Adediran Adeola O. as Director of Socials; Umar Alaba Zaynab as Director of Welfare; and Akindoyeni Oluwaseyifunmi K. as General Secretary.
The event also featured goodwill messages from key stakeholders. Adediran Esther Bosede, representing the Senior Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Student Affairs, noted that NFSAN’s reach extends beyond tertiary institutions to secondary and primary schools. She urged the new executives to serve with purpose, diligence and impact rather than popularity.
Engr. Sheriff Lamidi advised the new leadership to lead with purpose, noting that impactful leadership fosters growth, mentorship and lasting benefits for individuals and communities.
In his remarks, Amb. Oladimeji Ibrahim highlighted the challenges female students often face, including sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation and gender-based discrimination. He emphasised that passion, dedication, determination and discipline remain critical to overcoming such obstacles, citing former Minister of Finance and global leader, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as a model of disciplined and resilient female leadership in male-dominated spaces.
The inauguration signals a renewed momentum for NFSAN in the South-West, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the new leadership will deepen advocacy, strengthen unity and advance the welfare and rights of female students across the region.
