Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
A Nigerian doctoral student in Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware, Ojooluwa Ibiloye, has been elected the President of the Biden School Student Association (BSSA) for the 2025 to 2026 academic year.
The election concluded on Friday, May 2, with results announced on Monday morning by the academic support coordinator at the Biden School, Monica Esterling.
“We were excited to see you step up to represent your peers and improve the student experience at the Biden School,” Esterling said in her official remarks following the announcement.
Ibiloye, a Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Graduate Fellow, would lead the association representing students across three undergraduate majors, six master’s programs, and four doctoral programs at the University of Delaware’s Joseph R. Biden Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration.
The BSSA serves as the official bridge between the student body and school administration, advocating for students’ academic and professional interests.
In his victory speech, Ibiloye emphasised the collective values of service and leadership.
“We will build a more connected community that reflects our commitment to service, leadership, and learning. I am grateful for the trust students have placed in me, and I look forward to working alongside the executive board to deliver on that trust,” he said in a statement issued yesterday.
Ibiloye’s agenda included launching a quarterly, student-led policy dialogue series, strengthening engagement with alumni and policy practitioners, and instituting a Student of the Month initiative to recognize academic and professional achievements.
He also proposed an Academic and Cultural Exchange Week to honor the breadth of knowledge and experiences that enrich the student community.
Ibiloye previously served as secretary of the institution’s chapter of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
He has also completed advanced leadership training through the Mandela Washington Fellowship of the U.S. Department of State and the McCain Fellowship for Freedom administered by the International Republican Institute (IRI).
Ibiloye’s election continued a longstanding record of student leadership. Before beginning his doctoral studies in the United States, Ibiloye served as secretary of the Political Science Student Association at the University of Abuja and as a senator in the Federation of Ogbomoso Students Union.
During his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Jos South, Plateau State, he led a community development service group and coordinated an anti-corruption education campaign targeting youth in local schools.
Ibiloye’s achievement adds to the growing list of Nigerians distinguishing themselves on the global stage.
His rise to student leadership in one of America’s leading public policy schools reflects the strong tradition of academic excellence, democratic commitment, and leadership capacity that many Nigerians continue to demonstrate abroad.
“The Biden School’s mission calls us to serve and to lead with civic virtues and democratic values. This moment is about reaffirming that mission by ensuring every student has a voice in shaping our shared future,” Ibiloye added
With his election, the BSSA enters a new term of student-centered leadership rooted in public service. Colleagues describe Ibiloye’s leadership style as collaborative, principled, and forward-looking.
“Ojooluwa brings a civically engaged mindset and a real passion for empowering every student to lead. There’s a lot of optimism about what this new chapter will bring,” said fellow doctoral student Joe Oleksak.
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