FIND OUT WHAT TOOK PLACE ON THE 17TH OF FEBRUARY AT THE SOCIAL SCIENCES SMALL LECTURE THEATRE.

 REMARK; PICTURES GALORE AND MILD CELEBRATION AS THE FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES STUDENTS ASSOCIATION’S NEW EXECUTIVES WERE SWORN-IN 

It was a low-key celebration as the New Executives of FATSSSA were sworn-in on the 17th of February 2021. 

In an event initially advertised to hold virtually, no more than three ordinary members of the association were present at the Venue when it began at around three pm in the afternoon.

 In attendance were all the outgoing Executive members from the President to the Financial Secretary, the incoming Speaker of the new Faculty’s House of Reps, the new sub-Dean of the Faculty, Dr Lafenwa, and the new Dean of the Faculty Professor Chovwen and of course all the incoming Executives to be sworn-in.

          

                    THE DEAN OF THE FACULTY’S OPENING ADDRESS

In her opening remark the Dean of the Faculty of The Social Sciences, Professor Catherine Chovwen gave a well-done nod to the outgoing Executives, commending how well-spoken of they were at their time. she added in an advisory manner that they should see their well-applauded service not as the end but as the beginning, knowing that the majority of these Executives were already stepping out of the four walls of the University for the higher lives waiting out there. “You may not be able to say now where all you have done is leading you”, she said facing the outgoing Executives, while advising the incoming ones to pick the good boots their predecessors are leaving behind, and to even raise the bar.

She further sermonized that “leadership is not an occasion to lord it over the others”, as leaders must leave the space for conscience and history in all they do.

She warned that exposure to power positions and huge sums of money should help to maintain integrity, self-control, firmness in decision-making and self-confidence.

She enjoined the incoming Executives to take no small light of, and stand by the oath they were to take.

  

         ADDRESS BY THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION JOHN D. ADELEKE

In his address the outgoing President of the association. John D Adeleke, while first and foremost appreciating the good gestures his administration enjoyed from the Faculty management as well as the kind advices the new Dean had given, he went straight into giving a report of the affairs of the association at his tenure.

He remarked that the administration worked with a guiding document, more like a roadmap which sojourned them through each step along the way.

He stated that their administration invested more in human capital development of FATSSSAites  through their various programs.

He was brief and went straight into an highlight of the challenges faced during their tenure.

First was the shortage of financial commitment by the members of the association and unfulfilled promises by the external donors they found and approached.

That the faculty management rejected their request for opening the large and small lecture theatres during the examination. A decision he judged understandable due to the rising incidences of insecurity ravaging the campus during that period.

He went to make a number of suggestions to the incoming Executives.

Firstly that the new Executives should work more with the leaders of the various Departments, so that decisions that would be made would be based on data.

Then he advised the Executives should brace themselves up for an almost entirely online-based leadership due to the emergent situation of the world, which had forced students into the regime of virtual classes.

In his final remark and recommendation, John Adeleke also shared experiences of the intimate support he enjoyed from the Faculty management and advised the President to follow suit in the same regard of carrying the management along with any of the major steps he would like to take.

The taking of oaths of the New Executives took place around exactly 15:20.

   

THE NEW PRESIDENT’S REMARKS

In his own remarks after taking the oath, the new FATSSSA President Josiah Obong Josiah began by appraising the sudden shift of circumstances due to the Covid-19 disease outbreak.

He cut short his remarks in order to save time, and in summary he promised “things would change”  at his tenure.

THE SUB-DEAN, DR O. S LAFENWA’S SHORT ADDRESS

In his short address, the new Sub-Dean of the Faculty Dr O.S Lafenwa expressed that he is “very proud of them all”, referring to both the outgoing as well as the incoming Executives.

Facing the Dean in a mould of informal but friendly courtesy, he remarked that as things are at the moment he does not yet understand the form lectures would take the following Monday as they were supposed to commence.

He admonished the incoming Executives to do “what is right” and not “what they like.”

He advised that they ensure their hands remain open and pure at all times during the tenure as they are having a Dean who is very versed and well-experienced in dealing with students affairs.

And that it would matter a lot for their help if the Dean is seen and consulted before any major thing is done in the association..

At the close of his address, the Dean of the Faculty responded to the alleged existing confusion about the start of lectures. She said there have been suggestions and advices gathered, which would be shown to the University authorities and if approved would guide the modalities of the lectures which would commence on Monday the 22nd of February.

She admonished students to stay claim and upward looking as relevant information will be by the Faculty which would guide them.

The program ended on this note, at about 15:45, while both the outgoing and incoming Executives, each took rounds of pictures with the Faculty Head the Dean, and the Sub-Dean.