Blessing Iripia Alims, a student of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at the Department of Political Science, University of Calabar has emerged as the President of Student Union Government (SUG) in a keenly contested election, where she beat four male contestants.
In the election, Blessing polled 254 votes to beat her closest male rival, Egbim, who received 142 votes, while the other two males were not close to her at all.
She has made history with this feat as the first female to be elected the SUG President 49 years after the university has been established.
Blessing, a 300-level student has an impressive CGPA of 4.75.
Blessing, who hails from Gakem, in Bekwarra LGA, Cross River State, is a serial volunteer with NGOs such as Girl’s Power Initiative, The Bridge Leadership Foundation, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and Youth Advocates, UNFPA Nigeria.
In 2022, she was one of the winners of the Youngers Foundation Female and More Social Impact Project, among over 150 contestants from across Africa. She was the only winner from Cross River State, earning a 10-day learning visit to Kigali, Rwanda.
Blessing has led numerous charity initiatives and is a founding member of the Youth Friendly Hub at the University of Calabar. Recently, she attended the Young Women Leadership Training Program organized by IFES.
In the campus debate by the National Union of Campus Journalists, she emerged top with 87 points, defeating four male aspirants for the SUG President position.
