The Fourth Man Who Changed the Story: How an OAU-Trained Medical Doctor Rewrote Great Ife Students' Union History

 By Kehinde Awosina 

Newly inducted medical doctor and former President of the Great Ife Students' Union, Dr. Omoboriowo Damilola Isaac popularly known as Dr Bush, has shared his remarkable journey of overcoming a long-standing pattern that had plagued clinical sciences students who previously occupied the union's highest office.

In a reflective account titled "How I Broke the Curse," Dr. Bush narrated how he challenged what many considered an unwritten rule within the university's student leadership history.

According to him, before his emergence as President of the Great Ife Students' Union, only three students from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences had ever held the position. While they were celebrated for their dedication and activism, their tenures were marked by academic setbacks, delayed graduations, and periods when the Students' Union was eventually proscribed.

Faced with that history, the former Union leader said he encountered skepticism from both students and university authorities when he announced his intention to contest for the presidency.

He recalled a memorable meeting with the former Provost of the College of Health Sciences, who openly questioned whether he fully understood the risks associated with combining the demanding medical curriculum with student union leadership.

The Provost reportedly advised him to consider pursuing leadership within the medical students' association instead, citing the experiences of previous clinical sciences students who had occupied the office.

Despite the concerns, Isaac said he remained convinced that the challenge could be overcome.

"I didn't have a clean answer. I had a conviction," he wrote.

After consultations and careful consideration, he proceeded with his ambition and eventually secured victory in the election.

However, he noted that winning the election was only the beginning of a much tougher journey.

As President, he faced the difficult task of balancing the rigorous demands of Medicine and Surgery with the responsibilities of leading one of Nigeria's most vibrant student unions. He described the experience as intense and relentless, with moments when it appeared history might repeat itself.

University officials, including the Dean of Student Affairs, also expressed concerns about whether he could successfully manage both responsibilities.

Against the odds, Dr. Bush completed his tenure without disrupting his academic progression. He graduated alongside his original set and successfully handed over to a successor through a direct transition, becoming the first Students' Union President from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences to achieve both milestones.

Following his recent induction into the medical profession, Dr. Omoboriowo Damilola Isaac paid a visit to the former Provost to express gratitude for the mentorship and support he received throughout his tenure.

Reflecting on the meeting, he said both men laughed over the statistics and historical patterns that once seemed impossible to overcome.

"The curse—if there ever was one—is broken," he declared.

Dr. Bush said his accomplishment goes beyond personal success, describing it as a new chapter for future clinical sciences students who aspire to take on leadership roles without sacrificing their academic goals.

He expressed hope that future aspirants from the faculty would no longer be discouraged by historical precedents but instead be inspired by the possibility of excelling both academically and in student leadership.

With his successful graduation, completion of tenure, and induction as a medical doctor, Dr. Bush believes he has rewritten a narrative that once appeared inevitable, proving that leadership and academic excellence can coexist even in the most demanding circumstances.