It began, not in the chambers of power, but in the quiet thoughts of a student parliamentarian. What if the constitution we keep scrolling through on our phones could be something we touched? Flipped through? Quoted from confidently during plenary?
That thought stayed with Right Honourable, Chidera Okafor long before he became Speaker of the 19th Communication Students’ Representative Council, CSRC at Lagos State University, LASU.
On the 23rd of July 2025, that vision came to life, ink on paper as COSA LASU launched its first-ever printed constitution at the 7th Communication Parliamentary Summit with the theme: “Media’s Impact on Politics in the Digital Age: Opportunities, Challenges and Solutions.”
The document, which had existed only in digital form until now, was unveiled in front of students, peers, and guests, not just as a symbol of order but as a milestone in student governance.
“During plenaries, we’d be hunched over our phones, searching through PDFs, sometimes even the wrong versions,” Okafor recalled. “It didn’t reflect the seriousness of parliamentary procedure.”
The COSA constitution, now available in physical form, spans four chapters and six schedules. It defines everything from the roles of elected officers to electoral procedures, students’ rights, and internal legislative processes.
But more than the technical content, the printed edition represents something deeper: a commitment to legacy, continuity, and professionalism. “This wasn’t just about convenience. It was about respect for the institution, for the law, and ourselves as student leaders,” he said.
Future aspirants for COSA positions will now be required to study the constitution before picking up nomination forms. The hope, Okafor explained, is to build a generation of leaders who understand their mandates before they campaign, and govern with clarity once elected.
“The constitution shouldn’t just live in our files. It should live in our minds and our decisions,” he said.
The Speaker’s plan doesn’t end with this edition. As amendments are made in the future, a natural part of any political structure, he hopes successive administrations will follow the same path: update, print, and distribute.
To the outsider, a printed student constitution may seem modest. But within the walls of the Communication Department at LASU, it marks a turning point, a small act with large implications.
It’s a reminder that governance isn’t just about ambition or elections. It’s about structure. It’s about history. And sometimes, it’s about taking something abstract and making it real enough to hold in your hand.