FATSSSAites Aspiring For Offices in the Upcoming Students Union Elections

 INTERVIEW SESSION WITH MISS OLUOTANMI ZAINAB

By Caleb and Fiyinfoluwa

PRESSMAN: Good afternoon. My name is Caleb, a correspondent for FATSSSA press. Please can we meet you ma? What is your full name, level etc?

MISS ZAINAB: I am Ibukunoluwa Zainab. A 300 level student of the department of geography, Faculty of the social sciences and of Queen Idia hall constituency

PRESSMAN: We heard that as a rumour, your heralded intention to run for the VP of the students’ union. Pls kindly confirm how true this is.

MISS ZAINAB: Yes, it is 100 per cent true that I am contesting for a position in the SU of the University of Ibadan as the vice president

PRESSMAN: You are a part of this ongoing SU administration, isn’t it? What is your current position there?

MISS ZAINAB: Yes, I am the representative of Queen Idia hall constituency 

PRESSMAN: As a parliamentarian and majority leader for the Idia hall constituency, what have been your key achievements and key roles in this administration? How exactly have you been able to help?

MISS ZAINAB: Okay. As a parliamentarian, my basic duty is overseeing the affairs of the executive arm of the government and helping in running the administration. So as a representative of Queen Idia hall, it is my duty, because I am yet to resign, to represent them at the students’ union house. Then I have done my best going to the house representing them, talking about what will benefit those in Idia hall in general.

One thing like I said I have been able to do although the hall itself has been unable to implement it is fighting for the legislative arm in the hall. Female halls don’t have a legislative arm. So, one thing that we try to do is putting it to the dean of students that they should make the legislative arms of female halls come back to the halls. The dean of students has approved it and has sent letters to the hall warden and there was a release that there that there should be a legislative arm of government in the hall. I believe our hall warden is still working on it.

 We also tried to make sure that the stipulated amount for dues doesn’t exceed the #2500 which was then hall’s basic dues. Normally, the amount paid is #4500 which includes their basic dues, I.D card and tissues. We also ensured that payment for shirt and dinner wasn’t made compulsory for everyone in the hall.

PRESSMAN: What motivated your decision to leave the House and aspire for executive role? Have you been vice president or president somewhere before?

MISS ZAINAB: Starting with the last question, no, I haven’t been a vice president or president before. I have only held leadership positions as the assistant head girl and head girl in both primary and secondary school respectively. Then coming on campus, I haven’t been in any key executive position but I have been given the role of maybe heading the committees’ that I belong to in some of my organizations.

What motivated me to go for the post of the VP is that I feel I can give more and achieve more. I have what it takes to be in that position. I decided to go for it so that U.I students can feel my impact. Rather than complaining about what isn’t right in the union, it is better to be there to effect the change you want.

PRESSMAN: We understand the current FATSSSA VP is your bosom friend and hallmate. Also because of your great efforts during her aspiration for VP, many are of the view that you did help her because you felt you would need a FATSSSA VP endorsement at this time, how can you explain this claim?

MISS ZAINAB: That’s a capital NO. As at the time when I was pushing for Sandra, I only did that because she is my departmental friend and hall mate. I never knew I would be running for the post of the VP. So, I just did all I did for her as a friend.

PRESSMAN: Definitely you will have manifesto and goal. What is the central idea of your manifesto?

MISS ZAINAB: uhm, should I let it out now? Alright, I have my constitutional duty which is the general academic activities then student union week. I don’t know if I should let this out because there might be an opponent am unaware of running for the same post who might want to steal my ideas. But the central idea of my manifesto is trying to bring the student closer with the union and vice versa.

PRESSMAN: How can you describe the Akeju-led administration in general, and what are the inputs you think your own administration will be putting in place to raise the bar.

MISS ZAINAB: Okay, Akeju-led administration has been good so far because I believe they have tried best. What I feel is lacking is trying to make the union closer to the students. The students are not really carried along on issues pertaining to the union.

PRESSMAN: It has been observed that participation in union activities is very low in UI; this is not supposed to be the case. As VP if you emerge, how will you help make more UITES to participate in the day-to-day activities of their union?

MISS ZAINAB: Okay, this present administration, we are constructing a view center here at the secretariat. Most people form a bond when watching footballs or other sports together. So, the motive behind the viewing center is to make more students hang around the union and have a feel of what is going on there. The libraries are also opened 24/7 for students to read anytime, any day. Students can come around the union building just to see whatever is going on there and also have fun.

PRESSMAN: Do you have any hall endorsement yet? Are you looking up to such endorsements and which halls are you looking up for official endorsement?

MISS ZAINAB: No, I don’t.  This is because the ban on the union has just been lifted so not everyone has shown their interest in it. Actually, it will be nice to have endorsement from the halls of residence and faculties because it will go a long way, I mean all halls because no hall is greater than another, all halls are important.

PRESSMAN: Thank you very much for your time ma’am. We wish you success in your endeavours.