Shakira Martin (NUS president) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shakira Martin
Martin addressing the 2017 NUS National Conference in Brighton.
59th President of the National Union of Students
In office 3 July 2017 – 3 July 2019
Preceded by	Malia Bouattia
Succeeded by	Zamzam Ibrahim
Vice President for Further Education
In office 23 April 2015 – 3 July 2017
Preceded by	Joe Vinson
Succeeded by	Emily Chapman
Personal details
Born	1988 (age 36–37)
Alma mater	Lewisham and Southwark College

Shakira Martin (born 1988) is a British student leader. She was the president of the National Union of Students (NUS). The NUS is a large organization that represents students across the United Kingdom.

In April 2017, Shakira Martin was elected as the NUS president. She won with 56% of the votes. She took over from the previous president, Malia Bouattia. Martin promised to bring "unity" and "pragmatism" to the NUS. She wanted to put the organization "back into the hands of its membership." She is known for being the first Black female NUS president. She was also the first woman from the African-Caribbean community to hold this role. Shakira Martin was re-elected for a second term in March 2018.

Shakira Martin's Early Life and Education

Growing Up in London

Shakira Martin grew up in Lewisham, south-east London. She was one of nine children. Her parents were from Jamaica. She left home when she was 16 years old.

Later, she earned a diploma in education and training. She studied at Lewisham and Southwark College. While there, she became the President of the College Students' Union. This experience helped her learn about student representation.

Becoming a Student Leader

In 2015, Shakira Martin was elected as the NUS Vice President for Further Education. This happened at the NUS National Conference in Liverpool. She won with 141 votes. In this role, she worked to highlight how government changes affected students. She was a strong supporter of students and apprentices.

Martin was re-elected to this position in April 2016. She ran unopposed and won easily. She continued her work to support students. She also worked on a research project. This project looked at how major education reforms could help learners. The report was published in Autumn 2017.

Leading the National Union of Students

Building Trust and Addressing Student Needs

When Shakira Martin became president in July 2017, she focused on building trust. She met with the Union of Jewish Students. Her goal was to address concerns that Jewish students had raised.

A major project she started was a commission to study student poverty. This group made 40 recommendations. These ideas were well-received by other education organizations. In March 2018, Martin was re-elected for her second term. She continued to promise to fight student poverty and defend student rights. She also aimed to create a more united NUS.

Tackling Financial Challenges

Her second term as president focused on the NUS's money problems. The organization faced a large financial challenge. Martin worked to stabilize the union's finances. She developed plans for big changes to the NUS. These changes included financial, governance, and campaigning reforms.

After much discussion, 700 delegates voted to approve these changes. Martin was pleased with the vote. She called it an important decision to support reform. She believed it would help deliver the vision of the NUS members. Shakira Martin's term as president ended in July 2019. She was succeeded by Zamzam Ibrahim.

Images for kids

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  Shakira Martin speaking at the NUS National Conference.