A Nigerian student, Richard Ogheneruemurode Remz Iyede Jr, has been elected Student Union President of Brunel University London, United Kingdom, after polling 702 votes in a keenly contested election.
Iyede, a Mechanical Engineering student, hails from Aladja community in Udu, Delta State. He is born to Olorogun Richard Iyede, PhD, a renowned traditional chief and industrialist from Udu and Agbarha Warri Kingdoms in Delta State.
The Delta-born student clinched the position of Welfare and Inclusion President, one of the three principal student leadership offices in the university.
His victory comes after a track record of active involvement in student representation and advocacy within the institution.
Before his latest election, Iyede served as President of the African Caribbean Society, where he introduced career development initiatives including CV workshops and facilitated student participation in Black Business Week and STEM career fairs.
He also spearheaded mental health awareness programmes and skill-based workshops aimed at empowering students in his former position in the University.
During his tenure, the society collaborated with the Pan-African Society to host African Liberation Day, which featured Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti as keynote speaker.
In 2024, he was elected Chairman of the Student Assembly with 321 votes. While serving in that capacity, he led student engagement during discussions over staff redundancies and organised a peaceful protest outside a Senior Management Meeting, which resulted in dialogue with the university’s leadership.
He also advocated for the introduction of a Start-Up Development Module into academic programmes to encourage innovation among students. Beyond campus, Iyede represented the university at the UK Parliament as part of the National Union of Students delegation, where he lobbied on issues including rent, grants and cost-of-living challenges affecting students.
Speaking after his election, Iyede said his leadership would prioritise unity, inclusion and improved welfare support for students across different backgrounds.
