GSA is a purely students’ managed organization that is non-political, non-discriminatory and nonprofit making. The association seeks to explore a broad range of topics including social, historical and economic problems confronting Guinean scholars around the world. Its primary objective is to foster education among Guinean youths.

Organizational and Leadership Structure
GSA is organized in three-ring leadership structure referred to as Principal Leadership Network (PLN). The first ring is the Core leadership Council (CLC), which includes members from each component and is responsible for the strategic management of the organization’s affairs. This is followed by the second ring called the Members of the High Chair (MHC), which is mainly composed of advisers, parents (Patrons) and elected Government official (Grand Patron—usually the Guinean Ambassador to the prospective country). It is responsible for providing advising and sponsorship for its activities. The third is the Executive Student Government (ESG), which is composed of student executives and selected committee chair members (students). It is tasked with executing strategic decisions decided upon by the CLC and MHC. As a whole, PLN provides the leadership framework necessary to balance authorities and responsibility within the organization. It functions in a dynamic and highly interactive manner to manage, operate and plan all of GSA activities. See the figure below for break down.

 

Core Leadership Council (CLC): is composed of five officials, including ESG President, Vice President and Secretary General, Chief Grand Patron and Chair of Council of Advisers. It is responsible for strategic planning of all GSA activities and operations worldwide.
Grand Patrons: Grand patrons are Guinean government cabinet members or elderly member of the community in the respective countries. They are chosen by un-anonymous decisions/votes of the ESG and MHC bodies. The Grand patron is usually by default the Ambassadors of Guinea to the host country. But this is subject to change depending on ESG and MHC decision. The Chief Grand patron is an elected position voted on by ESG members and confirmed by MHC Chair.
Patrons: The patrons shall be elderly members of our community that shows interest in GSA and supports its programs and activities.
Advisers: The advisers shall be anybody who is interested in the growth of GSA and who has experience with similar bodies, particularly GSA. Nominated and elected by ESG officials and/or parents.
Members of High Chair (MHC): is composed of a maximum of eight officials including the Grand patrons, at least two advisers and up to three parent members (patrons) or supporters. This body acts as an advising component of GSA leadership network.
Executive Student Government (ESG): is composed of two major executive leadership chain, National and Branch. These bodies are responsible for the daily operation and management of all GSA activities.
National ESG: comprises of executives who oversee the activities of the branch bodies. It is composed of the following executive positions and offices:

• President
• Vice President I (VP I)
• Vice President II (VP II)
• Secretary General (S.G)
• Assistant General (A.S.G)
• Financial Secretary
• Treasurer
• Public Relation Officer (P.R.O)
• Director of Social Affairs and Recreation
• Advisory Committee Chair
• Academic Committee Chair

*Note: The President and VP I must be of different sexes.

Branch Executives: work with the National Executives to manage the daily operations and activities in remote locations outside GSA headquarter in Nigeria, Lagos. It is composed of following executive positions and offices:

• Chairman
• Vice Chairman
• Secretary General (S.G)
• Assistant General (A.S.G)
• Financial Secretary
• Treasurer
• Public Relation Officer (P.R.O)
• Director of Social Affairs and Recreation
• Advisory Committee Chair
• Academic Committee Chair

I will redo the organization chart with an up to date graphics later.

Current Officials

• Mr. Yusuf Nabe- Founder and First President
• Mr. Abubakar Sidiki Kaba, Pioneers
• Miss Fatoumata Conde, Pioneer
• Mr. Dabo Sekou, Pioneer and current National President
• Miss Fatoumata Marrah, Pioneer
• Abdulai Bah, Pioneer
• Mariam Diallo
• Kabine Cheriff
• Karamo Sy Savane
• Usman Camara
• Mohammed Kaba
• Yusuf Kaba
• Mohammed Fofana
• Bintu Sylla

History

The Guinean Student’s Association (GSA) was founded in 1999 by Yusuf Nabe, who graduated in 2006 from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) with a double major in Computer Science and Economics. He currently resides and works in Lagos. Mr. Nabe envisioned an organization composed of devoted Guinean students who wanted to assist younger Guinean students in furthering their educations.  Nabe’s idea was welcomed by many Guineans with great enthusiasm, most especially by the parents and other concerned students.
GSA was first introduced as the Guinean Student’s Union of Nigeria (GSUN). In 2002, following the successful organization of GSUN, Miss Fatoumata Conde (Mama—a female Guinean undergraduate student at University of Jos), inspired by Nabe’s idea, formed a similar organization primarily composed of female Guinean youths. While Miss Conde shared the same vision of helping younger Guinean students (females) further their educations, she also wanted to influence and change the increasing trend of early and forced marriages disrupting the career progress of Guinean female students in Nigeria. In late 2003, the two organization leaders realized the similarity in their objectives and decided to team-up. Miss Conde’s group, a smaller organization, became a part of GSUN. The integration resulted in a more coercive and strengthened student union.
In 2006, another body of similarly minded Guinean students from Lagos Island led by Mr. Abdulaye Bah approached Miss Conde and Mr. Sekou Dabo, another Guinean Student leader from the University of Ibadan, and suggested the creation of a broader Guinean student organization covering the entire region of Nigeria. As a result, Mr. Dabo and Miss Conde helped with the creation of GSUN extension in Lagos to attend to the needs of Lagos state Guinean students. In the same year, Mr. Dabo suggested that the organization consider a name change to better reflect the composition and strength of the umbrella organization. He claimed ‘association’ is more befitting than ‘union.’ This resulted in the retirement of the Guinean Student’s Union of Nigeria (GSUN) to the creation of Guinean Students Association (GSA)—Nigeria Chapter.
Our Successes
Over the years, GSA has grown from an organization of about hundred students to more than 3,000 active participants. GSA has helped numerous members and associates gain admissions into various higher institutions of learning in Nigeria and overseas. It achieved this through mentorship and community sponsorship—acting as an advisor to its members and often times providing the necessary funding necessary to help facilitate admissions.
GSA has succeeded in gaining local and Guinean government representation and endorsement for its programs and activities in Nigeria. It is recognized and supported by key local patrons, parents, businesses and international organizations.
Our Appreciations
GSA is thankful to the Guinean Ambassador to Nigeria and his staff for providing a listen ear and their support whenever the need arises. His Excellency, Dr. Cheick Abdoul Camara, has been of immerse help to the organization and a true citizen to the Guinean Students in Nigeria.
The organization also wishes to express its gratitude to another of its hero, Mr. Alhaji Abdul Lateef, the special adviser to the Lagos state government on legislative matters, for his relentless contribution and support to the Guinean community in Nigeria, particularly the student bodies. His generous contribution showed his true patriotism and indiscriminate commitment to helping the African students reach new and greater heights.
It is through the hearted contribution of individuals and organizations like these that GSA has managed to expand its network and influence not only across the Guinean Community but Africa as a whole. We are confident that such indigenous efforts will help eradicate illiteracy among youths in Guinea and across the African continent. GSA is always in the look for community engagement and sponsorship, whether local or international, to help sponsor its programs and activities and fight the dreadful implications resulting from lack of education. All efforts are appreciated.