Contribution short abstract:

The study is an analytical contribution of students' activism to the growth of democracy, development and good governance in the pre- colonial and post-colonial Nigeria. The study is an overview of the trajectory of how gendered -students' activism has overshadowed advocacy for good governance.

Contribution long abstract:

Students have continued to play critical roles in nation-building as advocates of good governance and development. The trajectory of advocacy for Nigeria’s democracy and good governance holds its wider supports to students’ activism. The radical ideology of the students’ leaders in support for decolonisation and opposition to military interregnums became signposts of Nigeria’s democracy. In recent time, the gains of democracy such as equal political participation, credible elections and good governance are on the decline due to gender disparity in students’ activism. Students’ activism, a supposed conscience of the nation is now dominated by the male folk, robbing it of the supports from female activists. There is paucity of studies on the role of female students’ activists and how such has impacted the growth of democracy. The study is a qualitative approach with data sourced from relevant secondary materials via published journals, textbooks, with ten case study reports in public universities. The study also used feminist theory as framework of analysis. The study identified cultural stereotypes, absence of institutional quota for female representatives in campus activism and violence- laden nature of African politics responsible for the declining of students’ activism and as the albatross to the growth of Nigeria’s democracy. The study recommends for action against gendered students’ activism; integration of female students into campus activism; reserved quota for female representatives; collaboration of students wing with the leadership of ASUU and prosecution of violence entrepreneurs in African politics in order to ensure renaissance of democratic values in Nigeria.