American University of Nigeria

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

If I am ever called in life to give account on an indelible experience; I will say, serving as chief servant in AUN SGA has awakened by enthusiasm to service. It is exactly 1 year, 2 days  ago when I stood in front of you to deliver my first address as SGA president. The intrigues of that moment were spurred by my passion, and the moments were not without challenges; but we kept on in steadfast towards our goals and accomplishment. I will never trade my experience as AUN-SGA president for anything in life!

To my fellow AUN students, I cannot thank you enough for your understanding and perseverance. From the depth of my heart line, the journey looks actually real and unending. By your privilege and support, I have given my best and time to service in my notion of destiny and ideas, and I tell you here tonight that no form of evaluation can be better than that of my conscience.

I am giving this speech today to mark the end of my tenure as SGA president. It pains to know that the time has finally come, not for the galore of holding the prestigious office of SGA President, but for the time, love and understanding we have shared. But just as it is in the words of Abba Tahir, “on the banner of service we bear the stain of separation,” I feel exactly nostalgic to say goodbye, as this will also mark the end of my studentship at AUN as I match on with the class of 2012.

The electoral committee has done a considerably good job born in the true sense of excellence and integrity.

The civil and assertive behaviours that were put on by the candidates as well as other concerned students during the election process is acceptable, and also a prove of their readiness to build a strong democratic institution for Africa. I congratulate all the emerged candidates, as well as the entire candidates.

To the incoming president:  I want you to understand that your emergence is symbolic to the current wave of developments at AUN.

At each stage of your time, you will always be critically accessed: right from the moment you step up here, and even when you eventually leave the office, your moments will often be recalled.  We have both worked to lay the foundational stone of hope for SGA, I challenge you to do more with your past experience and other leadership involvements on campus.  It is your time. With the continuous mentoring services from the likes of President Ensign and Dean Bullock, I believe there is no limit to what you can achieve.

To all the new SGA officials; I congratulate you once again. One advice is to always remember where you are coming from, who you are, where you are and why you are elected.

Finally to the entire students, I welcome you into another new era. I urge to support these ones, for indeed, a support is the best a leader can expect from his/her people.

It is hard to end this speech without acknowledging the past SGA officials who have performed extraordinarily in the past fortnight. Something always tell me that I had the best team of executives, and if I have to say that again, I will.

There are certain times and moments that their exclusion would leave our collective experience incomplete. SGA experience is quite entertaining and conducive. Our several engagements in student government planning and activities has inspired our professional lives. We have had to engage ourselves in activities where we brainstorm on how to solve in bits the myriad of challenges confronting our environment. In many cases, many of us have had to travel miles on social initiatives. We have all put much of our time to community service. Our regular dormitory community service initiative which debut in our time is an experience we can all fall back at. We have seen real life economic situation within and outside Yola community, and we have worked out modalities that touched lives.

And to those who have contributed to our success with golden silence and quality experience, I cannot thank you enough.

I must say you guys have done incredibly well, and I look forward to working with you again, sometime in the future.

Thank you all

Mohammed Santali

SGA President

2011/2012

{speech delivered in May 2012 during the official handing over…}