Campus social clubs:What you need to know

Are you a student thinking of joining a club within your campus that will impact you positively, but you don’t know what many of these social clubs are all about? DOYIN ADEOYE writes on the types and responsibilities of social clubs on campuses and speaks with club leaders across institutions

First on the list are professional clubs, whose memberships are solely drawn from the departments or faculties. Many departments and faculties across institutions have these associations. For instance, the Association of Sociology Students, Law Students Association, and so on.
The religious clubs, on the other hand, are faith-based associations which serve the interest of students who belong to their faith groups. Examples of such are the Evangelical Christian Union, Muslim Students Society, Baptist Students Union and so on.
Also are the home-based societies such as the Ondo State Students’ Union, Delta State Students’ Union, and others, whose membership are restricted to students from such communities, while they serve to protect the interests of their members.
The social or cultural clubs are those that promote the cultural heritage of the society. These include clubs like Kegites Clubs. The philanthropic clubs are aimed at rendering selfless services to the community and instill discipline in their members. Examples of such are the Man O’War, JCI, Red Cross, Rotary and the likes.
Other campus-based clubs include groups for campus journalists, foreign students and so on.

The Kegites Club
The Kegites Club International (KCI) is a club that promotes societal cultural heritage. Often associated with the palm wine, for many of the members, it is a good avenue to relax and hardly is there a Nigerian institution that does not have the Kegites Club.
With branches as far as in campuses in the United Kingdom and India, the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) remains the world headquarters of the Kegites Club.
Speaking with Campusbeats, the World Chief, Odidiomo Taiwo, a 400-Level student of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages explained that the club is solely a cultural heritage-promoting one.
On the misconceptions about the club, Taiwo said that unfortunately, many tend to equate the club to a cult.
“People often have the notion that the KCI is occult in nature, or probably that it is a confraternity, because it is the most popular and most populated in almost all the institutions in Nigeria. So, when people see us with our uniqueness and how united we are, they panic. But that is not who we are. The Kegites Club is not a secret cult. No secret cult performs their functions in broad daylight, but the Kegites do.
“The club is recognised everywhere and we gyrate and participate in virtually all functions on campuses. So, it is a big misconception for people to see us as cult members.”
On what qualifies one as a member, Taiwo said this is very simple. “Once you qualify as a bonafide student of the institution, then you can attend the gyrations. Membership is also conferred on non-student or graduate student who didn’t have the opportunity to join the club during his or her undergraduate days; but this will depend on his or her contributions and what he or she offers the club at large. It is very important that such must possess a good quality,” he said.
Law Students Association
Like every departmental of faculty-based association, this is aimed at teaching and nurturing the interests of the students.
Speaking with Campusbeats, the president of the Law Students Association (LAWSAN), Delta State University (DELSU), Kemefa Wesley, explained that the association is more or less like the students’ version of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
“It is all about law students and the law at the students’ level. Membership into the association is automatic for students of the faculty and as a member, a lot of things are gained, paramount of which is a sense of belonging.
“We are law students and ‘Barristers in Equity.’ We cannot be where the lawyers that are called to bar are. We cannot be where our lecturers are in rank. So being a member of the association gives the students a sense of belonging, because he or she gets assured that his or her interest is well protected.
“Also, students learn so much about law and practice in the association. What we do usually is to group the students into chambers, where they practise the law just like the big barristers. We have our moot and mock courts presided over by student judges, and we see it as an avenue for us to develop our legal skills.”
Speaking further, Wesley explained that as members of the association, students are made to understand, learn and abide by the ethics of the profession. For instance, ensuring that students adhere to the dress code of the profession which is black and white.
“We also organise seminars and invite distinguished and notable lawyers who talk to the students on salient matters of law.”
ENACTUS
Previously known as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), The ENACTUS is an international non-profit organisation, with a community of students, academic and business leaders committed to enabling progress through entrepreneurial action by considering, economic, social and environmental factors to improve their quality of life and standard of living.
The leader, Enactus Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, chapter, Joseph Adebowale, an HND 1 student of the Department of Food Science and Technology, explained that the club is aimed at impacting people around them positively.
“The association helps in promoting entrepreneurial skills in its members. The name ENACTUS stands for Entrepreneurial, having the perspective to see an opportunity and the talent to create value from that opportunity; Action, the willingness to do something and the commitment to see it through even when the outcome is not guaranteed; and Us, a group of people who see themselves connected in some important way.
“The organisation is guided by academic advisors and business experts, while the student team members of ENACTUS create and implement community empowerment projects round the globe. These projects are about teaching people how to fish, and not giving them the fish. When the problem is identified, we use a business approach and entrepreneurial concept to solve the identified challenges.”
With series of projects being executed by students within their regional or national areas, the experience does not only transform lives of people in need, but also helps the students to develop a perspective that is essential to leadership.
Union of Campus Journalists
The Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ) is fashioned after the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and it focuses on improving the intellectual development and promotion of activities of student journalists.
In a chat with Campusbeats, the president, UCJ, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Oseni Oluwatobi Timothy, a 400-Level student of the Department of Management and Accounting, explained that the union is solely for campus-based press organisations, whose activities are being continually checked to ensure normal practices in line with ethical journalistic practices.
“Membership of the union is open to only members of press organisations registered with the union, while the members of the union stand to gain from symposia, capacity building forums, which are put together by the union from time to time to develop and sharpen personal journalistic knowledge.
“The union is also saddled with the responsibility of creating a well-informed society; that is the LAUTECH community and some of the programmes we have organized in recent times include capacity building on media and journalism, capacity building on ICT, intervarsity essay competitions, centenary debate competition and press awareness at different times, including the United Nations Day for international Press Freedom, and so on.
Junior Chamber International 
The JCI is a non-political and non-sectarian youth service organisation, aimed at creating positive changes in the world.
The president, JCI, University of Ibadan (UI), Ogunmuko Tolulope, a 500-Level student of the Department of Medicine and Surgery, explained that the JCI is an organisation that provides a platform for all its members to serve.
“JCI ensures employable skills for members, develop the human capacity to achieve and also instill belief and confidence in its members.
“The club helps students to find targeted solutions to local issues that would benefit the community, the world and the future, without involving the government. The association also gives each member an opportunity to improve themselves, gain leadership skills and also enjoy the benefits of a large house, for business and the impact of networking.”

The Red Cross Society
The Red Cross and Red Crescent is an international humanitarian aid organization, which is neither ethnic nor religious. With its international headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, its sole aim is to alleviate the sufferings of vulnerable persons in times of war and conflicts, by administering first aid to the wounded and in times of peace, by caring for the motherless, homeless, sick, needy, disabled, as well as conducting awareness campaign against malaria, HIV, tuberculosis and other diseases within the community.
The name Red Cross is used in mainly Christian countries, while Red Crescent is used mainly in Muslim countries; but this does not signify that Red Cross and Red Crescent are based on religion.
The Commandant, Red Cross Society, LAUTECH, Olaniyi Abdulgafar Olajide, a 400-Level student of the Department of Management and Accounting, explained that there are over 87 million volunteers in 187 countries in the world, while Red Cross LAUTECH detachment is a unit of the Red Cross in the university and its environs.
“The society is independent and offers its own services as governed by the seven principles of the International committee of Red Cross (ICRC) Geneva, Switzerland and these services include disaster management, ambulance services, provision of relief materials to victims of disaster, rendering of first aid, health campaigns, band corps, camping activities, traveling and excursions within and outside the country.
“Students members of the society benefit from several programmes lined up for them and these include visitation to the less-privileged, trainings on first-aid administration, trainings on leadership skills, parades, educative and entertaining camping activities, excursion and field trips, among others.

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“Membership is voluntary; it is open to students who show interest in joining, irrespective of their religion, cultural origin, political opinion, creed and sex. The responsibilities of the members are mainly to attend to emergencies, administer first-aid, organise health campaigns, provide assistance to victims of disasters and so on.
All- Nigeria United Nations Students and Youth Association (ANUNSA)
The All- Nigeria United Nations Students and Youth Association (ANUNSA) is an organisation aimed at promoting and supporting the ideals and principles of the United Nations, while also raising a pool of young people with skills in multilateral diplomacy and an objective outlook at international issues as a whole.
Speaking with Campusbeats, the president, ANUNSA, The Polytechnic, Ibadan chapter, Boade Oyesina Emiloju, an HND 2 student of the Department of Mass Communication, explained that the basic activity of the association is to study the nature and workings of the United Nations and to promote the ideals and principles of the United Nations through conferences, workshops seminars and so on.
“The activities of the association cut across education, social, cultural, political and professional backgrounds, while her thematic issues cut across health, environment, poverty eradication, sustainable development, democracy, peace education and so on.”