In April 1978, Nigerian tertiary institutions witnessed one of the most significant student uprisings in post-independence history, known as the Ali Must Go protests, triggered by increases in accommodation and meal ticket costs for federal university students, the protests marked a nationwide demonstration of youth activism against government policies perceived as unjust, and became a defining moment in student political mobilisation.
The Federal Military Government led by General Olusegun Obasanjo, governing between 1976 and 1979, faced economic pressures, and sought to adjust costs affecting student welfare, while planning the transition to civilian rule in 1979, this decision to increase daily meal ticket prices from ₦1.50 to ₦2.00, although modest, was seen by students as arbitrary and burdensome, and ignited protests across campuses, reflecting growing student awareness of social and political accountability.
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Segun Okeowo and Student Leadership
Segun Okeowo, born on 5 August 1948 in Shagamu, Ogun State, studied at the University of Lagos, where he became actively involved in student politics, and in 1977, was elected President of the National Union of Nigerian Students, NUNS, which coordinated student unions across federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, representing student interests nationally, under his leadership, students sought dialogue with government representatives, but when consultations failed to resolve the disputes, a coordinated national protest was organised, the slogan “Ali Must Go” directly referenced Colonel Ahmadu Ali, Federal Commissioner for Education, whom students held responsible for implementing the fee increases.
The 1978 Protests
On 17 April 1978, students began a nationwide boycott of lectures, protesting the increase in accommodation and meal ticket costs, when dialogue failed to produce results, demonstrations escalated into public protests, the first major confrontation occurred at the University of Lagos, where a student, Akintunde Ojo, was shot and later died after reportedly being denied urgent medical care, this incident intensified student outrage and inspired protests at other institutions, including Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Ibadan.
At Ahmadu Bello University, soldiers were deployed, and at least eight students were killed during clashes with security forces, demonstrating the intensity of state response, the protests involved widespread participation and coordination, highlighting the organisational capacity of NUNS and student leaders under Okeowo, the slogan “Ali Must Go” became a unifying chant, representing opposition to both the fee increases and perceived authoritarian governance, and symbolised the collective political consciousness of Nigerian students at the time.
Government Reaction and Aftermath
The Federal Military Government responded with decisive measures, all federal universities were closed indefinitely, and the National Union of Nigerian Students was proscribed, preventing further national coordination, Segun Okeowo was rusticated from the University of Lagos due to his leadership role, interrupting his studies, he later enrolled at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, where he completed a degree in education in 1980, the fee increases were not reversed, but the protests left a lasting impact on student activism, demonstrating both the risks of dissent under military rule and the power of organised student mobilisation.
Social and Political Impact
Although the immediate economic demands were not met, the Ali Must Go protests had enduring implications for student unionism and civil society, they highlighted the capacity of students to mobilise nationally, challenge government policy, and participate in shaping public discourse, the government’s response, involving closures and proscription, demonstrated the limits of tolerance for dissent, but also reinforced the significance of student engagement in socio-political issues, the events of 1978 influenced later movements addressing educational funding, governance, and democratic participation in Nigeria, creating a template for youth activism in the country.
Legacy of Segun Okeowo
After graduation, Segun Okeowo lived a professional life as an educationist, serving in leadership positions in teaching administration and as a school principal, he remained respected for his principled stance in the 1978 protests, and his leadership is frequently cited in academic works and media as a model of civic courage and youth political engagement, he passed away on 28 January 2014 at the age of 73, his life exemplifies the personal cost of activism under military rule and the enduring legacy of student leadership in Nigeria’s educational and political history.
The Ali Must Go protests of 1978, led by Segun Okeowo and NUNS, were a defining moment in Nigerian student activism, demonstrating the organisational power of youth and the ability to challenge government policy under challenging circumstances, although met with repression, the movement established a lasting legacy of student participation in national debates on governance and education, and remains a key reference point for contemporary discussions on the role of youth activism and social justice in Nigeria.
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Author’s Note
This article provides an account of Segun Okeowo and the Ali Must Go protests of 1978, illustrating the critical role of student activism in shaping Nigerian political and educational discourse, the events remain a touchstone for understanding youth engagement, civil resistance, and the evolution of student unionism in post-independence Nigeria.
References
Ali Must Go: How 50 Kobo Increase in Meal Tickets Sparked Student Protests in 1978 – Pulse Nigeria.
