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Summary
Kangyang Jane Pwajok made history by becoming the second female Student Union Government (SUG) president at the University of Jos, 35 years after Ene Obi first held the position. Winning the election with 1,682 votes, her triumph followed a rescheduled poll, and she has pledged to serve the university's students with dedication and commitment to her mandate.
Kangyang Jane Pwajok has made history as the second female Student Union Government (SUG) president at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), over three decades after Ene Obi became the first in 1989.
The Students Union Government is a body established in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions to promote unity, orderliness and smooth relationships between students.
Pwajok, a student of medicine and surgery, won the election held on November 20, 2024, after a tense and rescheduled voting process. Pwajok triumphed with 1,682 votes, defeating her closest rival, Kiku Roy Magaji, who garnered 969 votes. Other candidates, including Francis Perembo, Izam Samuel Musa, and Ayuba Chollom Yakubu, received 118, 54, and 24 votes, respectively.
This achievement highlights her role as only the second woman to hold the position in the institution’s 49-year history, marking a significant step forward in student leadership representation at UNIJOS. Chief J.S. Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, served as Obi’s Student Legal Adviser and shared the historical context of the position.
The election, which had initially been scheduled for November 14, 2024, was delayed due to technical issues with the ICT department’s results system. The rescheduled vote on November 20 saw Pwajok’s decisive victory. Dr. Othman Ibrahim, head of the student electoral committee, announced the results.
In addition to the presidential race, Gabriel Mercy Oma won the vice-presidential seat with 2,274 votes, far ahead of Nyenge Uershia Benita, who earned 506 votes.
Pwajok has assured the university’s students that her administration will work diligently to fulfil the mandate entrusted to her, vowing to promote unity, orderliness, and smooth relations between students.
In her victory announcement on X, Kangyang expressed her gratitude to the students and her campaign team.
“We made history today! Got elected as the First Female SUG President at the University of Jos! Thank you, Josites!!! Thank you to my amazing campaign team turned family. We look forward to defending the confidence you’ve reposed in us by voting for us. We will Illuminate today and Shape tomorrow because #YESWECAN,” she wrote.
The historic win has been met with congratulatory messages from students, friends, and well-wishers, celebrating Pwajok’s achievement as a beacon for future generations.
“Congratulations, darling, you have made history, leave your mark and make sure they never forget!” @NelOsuji wrote,
The election is a remarkable milestone, but it also shows the persistent gender inequality in leadership roles. Women often face systemic barriers and societal biases that not only limit their access to top leadership positions but also confine them to smaller roles, even when they are overqualified for larger responsibilities. The fact that only two women have held this position shows the need for deliberate efforts to foster inclusivity and empower more women to break these historical patterns.
