The election of a 40-year-old student, Comrade Alex Onu, as President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
Onu, a 400-level student of Political Science, emerged winner after defeating his opponent in the election held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. The results were officially announced on Thursday by the university’s electoral committee, marking what many described as a historic moment in the institution’s student politics.
In an interview with Port Harcourt Specials, Onu confirmed that he is in his early 40s but maintained that age should not limit anyone from pursuing education or leadership opportunities. He said he returned to school to acquire knowledge and to serve his fellow students, stressing that leadership is about capacity, not age.
The emergence of his congratulatory flier online sparked debate among users on X (formerly Twitter), with opinions sharply divided. While some questioned his suitability for a student leadership position given his age, others defended his decision to contest, insisting that education and leadership have no age barrier.
A user identified as @MistaFrank wrote that the title “Comrade” should be replaced with “Chief,” suggesting that Onu was too old for campus politics. In contrast, another user, @Nurse_Jare, praised him for returning to school despite his age and winning the election, urging critics to stop making him feel bad for his decision.
Similarly, @NwabuezeNw0411 questioned the mockery directed at Onu, asking if there was any age restriction for being a student or contesting in SUG elections.
The Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, owned by the Rivers State Government, was established in October 2009 from the former Rivers State College of Education, which had existed since 1970.
On October 15, 2009, the Rivers State House of Assembly passed the University of Education Law No. 8, converting the college into a full-fledged university. The official announcement was made on October 20, 2009.
The university was named after the late Ignatius Ajuru, a former Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, who played a pivotal role in championing its upgrade to university status.
