Former President of the Students’ Union Government of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, James Adio, has revealed that the resilience shown by music star Tiwa Savage after the leak of her private video inspired him to overcome the backlash that followed the circulation of his own explicit clip.
Adio disclosed this during an interview with Tiamiyu Adebayo TV, stating that he refused to succumb to public criticism because he believed he could rise above the controversy, just as the singer did after a similar experience in 2021.
According to him, Savage's response to her ordeal convinced him that the incident would not define his future.
“Tiwa Savage went through something similar. In fact, I have not reached the level she had attained, yet she survived it. I have come too far in life to give up,” he said.
The former student leader explained that he was initially unaware of the social media reactions until he later checked his phone and saw the flood of comments.
He said thoughts of quitting quickly disappeared because he realised many people still believed in him despite the controversy.
“When I eventually saw what people were saying online, I told myself that giving up would mean disappointing those who had confidence in me,” he added.
Adio also credited the support he received from former students and members of the university community for helping him remain focused.
Reflecting on his emergence as SUG president, he described the election as one of the toughest moments of his life, noting that he defeated 13 other contestants.
“It was a difficult contest. Many people wanted me to fail, but I kept pushing. Although I am young, I have experienced a lot,” he said.
He maintained that the goodwill he earned through his service to students became evident after the controversy, as many students publicly defended him.
Adio also acknowledged the encouragement he received from his family, especially his mother, saying their support gave him the strength to move on when he expected condemnation.
The former SUG president was suspended by the university in June over allegations that about ₦700,000 in unauthorised levies collected from newly admitted students was traced to his account.
Shortly after the suspension, an explicit video allegedly involving him surfaced on social media, prompting widespread reactions. The university subsequently suspended two students over allegations of cyberbullying and blackmail linked to the circulation of the video.
Despite the controversies, Adio has since completed his academic programme and officially signed out of the institution.
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