Selma Yoda has officially entered the race for the 60th Presidency of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), becoming the only female candidate in the contest.
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Ms. Yoda said her decision to contest followed consultations with students and other stakeholders across the country, as well as encouragement from those who believe she can contribute to the direction of national student leadership.
She is campaigning on a platform of responsive and inclusive leadership, saying NUGS must move beyond election-time promises and focus on delivering results that have a direct impact on students.
According to Ms. Yoda, student leadership must be willing to listen to the concerns of its constituents and ensure that different voices are considered in decisions affecting their welfare and future.
She pointed to the rising cost of education, uncertainty surrounding employment opportunities and concerns about inadequate representation as some of the issues confronting Ghanaian students.
Ms. Yoda said NUGS must also become more visible and responsive to students beyond the major universities, noting the needs of students in colleges of education, nursing training institutions and other tertiary institutions.
If elected, she said her administration would place particular attention on student welfare, mental health, opportunities, innovation and advocacy.
Ms. Yoda brings youth leadership and diplomatic experience to the contest. In 2025, she served as Vice Chair for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) during the African Youth Leadership Diplomatic Conference in Addis Ababa. She later served as Vice Chair for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa in 2026.
She has also served as Fundraising Chair of the Rotaract Club of Accra Dome, where she contributed to youth empowerment programmes and related initiatives.
Her candidacy has also brought renewed attention to female participation in national student leadership, as she is currently the only woman seeking the NUGS presidency.
Ms. Yoda said she hopes her decision to contest will encourage more young women to pursue leadership opportunities despite the barriers they may face.
She acknowledged that the campaign would come with challenges and criticism but maintained that her ambition goes beyond securing the presidency.
For Ms. Yoda, the broader goal is to strengthen the visibility, relevance and trust of student leadership while contributing to a stronger legacy for future generations of Ghanaian students
