Samson Onwe
Co-President Democracy and Education
Leads on democracy, academic representation, student voice, and the strategic direction of the Students’ Union.
Samson was elected by SOAS students in March 2026. Co-Presidents work full time for the union for one year.
Contact Samson
Email so4@soas.ac.uk
Manifesto
This is the manifesto Samson stood on in the March 2026 election.
A new way with Samson Onwe
SOAS is full of brilliant people and bold ideas. Yet far too often, those ideas don’t get the space, resources, or leadership they deserve. That is why I am standing.
My relationship with SOAS began long before formal enrolment. Since 2023, I have been a member of this academic community through reading access generously granted by institutional initiatives that opened the university’s intellectual resources to me. It was through this sustained engagement that I came to value deeply what SOAS represents: a space defined not only by critical inquiry, but also by the possibility of intellectual solidarity across borders and experiences.
Building on this foundation, I have spent my time at SOAS getting things done. My engagement has been guided by the conviction that beyond mere symbolic representation, student leadership is most meaningful when it strengthens the institution’s capacity to serve its community. I have therefore invested my efforts in creating spaces where intellectual exchange, professional exposure, and student initiative intersect in practical ways. This has included convening discussions that brought diplomats, scholars, and students into sustained dialogue, committing significant voluntary time to support societies in expanding their activities and visibility, and assisting students navigating administrative and welfare systems that often appear fragmented or inaccessible.
Much of this work has taken place outside formal recognition, involving the patient task of helping students access support, clarifying institutional pathways, and ensuring that procedural complexity did not become a barrier to participation. Through these experiences, I have sought to strengthen connections across constituencies that too often operate in isolation, linking students with university leadership, departments with societies and promoting a culture of accountable, deliberative leadership that encourages participation and collective ownership.
Having experienced higher education first as an international student and now as a home student, I have developed a grounded understanding of the structural, financial, and institutional barriers students encounter as they navigate unfamiliar systems in pursuit of opportunity, stability, and belonging. I am running to build a proactive Students’ Union that harnesses the opportunities of studying in the commercial capital of Europe, expanding access to resources for both home and international students. A Union that better leverages the University of London ecosystem, strengthens external engagement, and positions SOAS as an outward-facing intellectual hub. I will advocate for improved access, clearer communication, transparent budgeting, and concrete support for student-led projects, internships, and creative initiatives.
Working within and alongside institutional structures, I know how to navigate systems, secure commitments, and build collaboration across differences. I believe deeply in the intellectual community that defines SOAS and in our capacity to shape both the university and the wider world when provided with the structures to do so.
If, like me, you believe the Students’ Union should not only represent students’ voices but also work to turn those priorities into real policies that make tangible difference to student life, I would be honoured to have your vote.
In service and solidarity,
Samson Onwe
More about this role
Read the full Co-President role descriptions.