IT'S FATSSSA ELECTIONS O'CLOCK!! MEET MISS GLORIA POPOOLA, AN ASPIRANT FOR THE OFFICE OF GEN SECRETARY

 

By Agoro Adeola

FATSSSA PRESS: Good evening

MISS. GLORIA: Good evening

FATSSSA PRESS: I'm Adeola Agoro from Fatsssa Press. And we've got few questions  for you as regards your political aspiration in the upcoming Fatsssa Elections.  First of all,  Can I meet you?

MISS. GLORIA: I'm Gloria Popoola, 200 level Political Student . I'm vying for the post of General Secretary for FATSSSA.I am an academically sound student holding a CGPA of 4.0 as at last semester. I am an award winning writer and public speaker. Based on my writing abilities, I was given appointments by the NAUS treasurer as SA on Media and Academics and my duties are summarily writing duties.I possess soft skills as management, problem solving, speed and accuracy, Microsoft office package usage, amongst others.

FATSSSA PRESS: Alright. Why do you think you're the right fit for this position?

MISS. GLORIA: I could have gone for vice president, treasurer or financial secretary and others, but I chose to contest for the post of general secretary because I believe the duties of a general secretary aligns with my skills and who I am. Based on the constitution of FATSSSA, the functions of a general secretary involves heading the secretariat, having access to all documents and dealing with paper work, taking down minutes of executive meetings and so on. All these fit into the skills I possess as a writer, as someone with impeccable management skills and someone who has great speed and accuracy.

 

So, I want to serve FATSSSAites with my skills under the post of General Secretary.

 

I believe with the skills I possess which are in line to the duties of a general secretary, I am best fit for the role.

FATSSSA PRESS: Okay. Have you held a General Secretary position before in some other organization?

MISS. GLORIA: No I have not, but I currently hold the post of Deputy Governor, Human Resources Management in a student leadership organization on campus GOTNI UI.

FATSSSA PRESS: Okay then. What do you think are the most important skills a General Secretary should possess?

MISS. GLORIA: Temperament most importantly, because I believe that a General Secretary works closely with the President just like a secretary works with a CEO. He or she must be able to be temperate enough to receive and carry out multiple orders from the president. I also believe top notch writing skills, negotiating skills, management skills amongst others are the basic skills a general secretary must have.

FATSSSA PRESS: Well, as much as you would want to be temperate as the General Secretary. There's the paramount aspect of assertiveness, attention to detail, organisation and time management skills and of course flexibility. So, how flexible are you under pressure?

MISS GLORIA: As you stated, I mentioned the most important skills. All these you mentioned are also characteristic of my person. I mentioned earlier that I have great speed and accuracy, this shows that I do have the ability to work under pressure while being economical with time. (Time management) I mentioned management skills also which I believe covers organization. So, yes I am sufficiently flexible in working under pressure.

FATSSSA PRESS: Alright. What's your experience like with handling money, reporting budgets, and recording expenses?

MISS GLORIA: Well, hilarious as it may be, I have worked as a POS agent and utility bills payment agent at different times. I have handled millons of naira in cash. I was also involved in recording the payments and ensuring the books are balanced at the end of the day. In reporting budgets, I'm currently on a planning committee for a NAUS programme to hold this year, so I am involved in writing the budget and things to be expended on, I am also involved in writing letters to sponsors on in which the budget for the event is stated in.

FATSSSA PRESS: Oh that's a good one. So, How Tech savvy are you, Miss Gloria?

MISS. GLORIA: I am a tech sis actually. I have the basic computer skills, I am good with Microsoft packages also. As a matter of fact I used to be involved in web design having built a blog for myself some time in 2020 during the lockdown. But when the coding was too much, I transitioned into UX design and research and project management by the side which didn't require me to code.

FATSSSA PRESS:  So, are you saying you're digitally fluent and good with emails and other secretarial duties?

MISS. GLORIA: Yes, I am.

FATSSSA PRESS: Good, How do you stay motivated?

MISS. GlORIA: The strive for excellence in everything I commit to do. What is worth doing at all is worth doing well my mom always say. I would say it also keeps me motivated.

FATSSSA PRESS: So, you are the go big or go home type?

MISS. GLORIA: Well, I am someone who aims at excellence, but I believe certain circumstance hinder one at times , instead of "going home" I would do the possible one if the "going big" cannot be achieved.

FATSSSA PRESS: Okay, one more quick question. What do you hope to accomplish in this position?

MISS. GLORIA: The post of General Secretary doesn't grant the luxury to independently bring initiative, so what I hope to accomplish according to my constitutional duties is to build on the past administrations in making better the condition of the secretariat, because I believe it can be better. I plan to also get FATSSAites more involved in decisions and planning made my the executives by constantly sending out survey forms to know their pain points and how we can try to solve the most of it. I also plan on providing database for FATSSSAites records this would help to keep track of alumni in the future. Digitalizing dues receipts and other receipts are also part of my plans.

FATSSSA PRESS: Alright. And that's a wrap. It's a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for your time.

MISS. GLORIA: It's a pleasure meeting you too. Thank you.