Interview with a Presidential Aspirant, Gloria Tolulope Popoola

 

By George Miracle

FATSSSA PRESS: Good evening Gloria, my name is Miracle George, I'm a representative from FATSSSA Press and I would like to interview you concerning your intention to run for the office of the president in the forth coming elections.

Gloria: Oh! Good evening.

FATSSSA PRESS: Kindly introduce yourself.

Gloria: My name is Gloria Tolulope Popoola. I am a 300 student of FATSSSA in the department of Political Science.

FATSSSA PRESS: What were the things that inspired you to run for this office?

Gloria: I have always had the burden to make an impact for a change for students in the field of social sciences as far back as my JAMB and Post-JAMB days. The vision I have always had necessitated that I be in the position of leadership. That is, for this vision to be executed, I have to be in position of leadership, hence my decision to run first for General Secretary to understand how to man an administration, because you'd agree with me that it's not enough to have a vision, you must have the necessary skills on how to execute it and you must also have the knowledge about the organisation you're trying to lead, and now for Presidency, the position that if I emerge, I'd be able to execute the actionable plans under the vision I have for students in the field of social sciences.

FATSSSA PRESS: You mentioned that you have had a burden to make an impact, what positive impact should FATSSSAites be expecting from you if you emerge as the president elect?

Gloria: A movement, something that would change the status of social science students in the long run. If you don't mind, I would like to give the details  at the Press and Manifesto Night.

FATSSSA PRESS: In your current office as the gen sec, what are the significant things you have done differently?

Gloria: As the general secretary, I have introduced the database system which contains the records of all students that filled the form sent out. This database system would allow for easy access to Alumni in the future. All student associations need the input of their alumni to give back to the association, this I have achieved for the future of FATSSSA as the general secretary.

I also as the general secretary introduced the social sciences model United Nations Conference. An initiative that helps to practise what we've learnt in class as social sciences students. I believe we're the ones trained to understand the society and man, so we have the knowledge for the best solutions to the society and the global system.

FATSSSA PRESS: How will you ensure transparency and accountability in decision-making processes within the association?

Gloria: Carrying every member of the legislative house along in every decision the executives make is one way I'd ensure transparency and accountability. The executive and legislative council are to be a team. So, it is only expected of me as the President to carry them along in every activity of the executives.

To ensure accountability, I plan to actively involve the press in making known the activity of every executive office to FATSSSAites as well as the decisions the executives make. This not only ensures that the executive council is accountable, but that FATSSSAites have full information of what the people they voted in are doing and how they're fulfilling the many promises they made.

FATSSSA PRESS: Asides your role as general secretary, can you provide examples of your previous leadership experience and how it prepared you for this role?

Gloria: Apart from being the general secretary, I hold the position of Deputy Governor, Human Resources in a leadership organisation on campus; GOTNI UI.  

My role as the Deputy Governor, Human Resources has helped me further with the necessary skills required to understand how to gather human and material resources to achieve a goal. This knowledge prepares me adequately for the post of Presidency, because as the president I'd be in charge of bringing together every member of the executive council, the Vice President who is in charge of FATSSSAites and their academics, the General Secretary in charge of managing all documents, information and files that pertain to the association, the AGS in charge of Sanitation and the properties of the association, the social director in charge of social and fun events, the sport director in charge of sporting activities, to the treasurer and financial secretary in charge of managing the association's finances down to the P.R.O in charge of publicity to the end goal of maintaining FATSSSA's excellence. Furthermore, my experience as Deputy Governor Human Resources of GOTNI UI has given me the experience on how to plan social events like hangouts for members of the club.

FATSSSA PRESS: How do you plan to promote interdisciplinary collaboration among different departments and programs?

Gloria: In my manifesto, I have a range of activities prepared to ensure all around excellence for every FATSSSAite; the nerdy FATSSSAite, the Social FATSSSAite, the Sporty FATSSSAite, the religious FATSSSAite, etc. But once again, I would like to wait till Press Night and Manifesto Night to unveil these programs.

FATSSSA PRESS: How would you handle situations where faculty members have conflicting interests or opinions on a particular issue?

Gloria: The best way to handle conflicts is diplomacy through dialogue. To handle conflicts amongst members of the association, I would call for a congress as the president, where FATSSSAites can raise their concerns and where issues can be resolved.

FATSSSA PRESS: What steps would you take to enhance communication and engagement between faculty administration and students?

Gloria: Thank you for this question!

One area I have noticed for improvement in the current administration which I am in is the area of communication, correspondence to FATSSSAites from the executives.

To enhance communication, I plan to bring an initiative called "Media briefing" and press releases which would be done by the publications committee under the office of the P.R.O and published as news. The constitution under chapter 3, article 8, section 7, sub sections 2 and 3 and article 10, section 2h of the constitution provides adequately for this. Although the constitution provides for this, many administrations have not been having it, but as the president, I plan to have this for effective communication and correspondence from the executives to FATSSSAites.

FATSSSA PRESS: Can you outline your vision for the faculty association and how you plan to achieve it during your term as president?

Gloria: If you please permit me, I'd like to unveil this on Press and Manifesto Night.

FATSSSA PRESS: Thank you for your time.

Gloria: Thank you too!