D STUDENT INTEREST

This study examines student union politics and its effectiveness in aggregating and satisfying student interests at the University of Benin. The research explores the extent to which the student union represents student concerns, the challenges it faces, and tudent satisfaction with its performance. A quantitative survey research design was adopted, with data collected from 264 students through structured questionnaires. The findings reveal that while the student union is effective in advocating for student welfare, mediating conflicts, and disseminating information, it struggles with governance representation and financial transparency. Major challenges identified include administrative interference, leadership conflicts, low student participation, poor communication, and repression by university authorities. Despite these obstacles, students expressed satisfaction with welfare initiatives, recreational activities, and communication efforts, though concerns about transparency persist. The study establishes a significant relationship between student union representation, student interest aggregation, and satisfaction. Recommendations include enhancing student participation, strengthening financial transparency, and reducing administrative interference. These findings contribute to the discourse on student governance and provide insights for improving student union effectiveness in Nigerian universities