AN INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT - PETER SUNDAY ADEGOKE

 INTERVIEW

Peace Nkenta

Peace: Good afternoon, I'm Peace Nkenta a Pressman of the Faculty of The Social Sciences. 

Peter: Good afternoon, I'm Peter Sunday Adegoke a, 300-level student of the deDepartmentf  Political Science vying for the position of the Faculty President. 

Peace: Mr Adegoke, how are you doing?

Peter: I'm doing fine, thank you. 

Peace: My first question that I'm putting to you is what inspired or led you to vye for the position of the President of the Faculty. 

Peter: Thank you very much for that question. I will start by quoting Warren Bennis who said that “ Leadership is the capacity to transform vision into a reality”. Also a, favourite quote of mine is that “ When your life is dedicated to altruistic and selfless service, any position that you find yourself bein comes an office of purpose to make iman pact”. I have served in various leadership capacities because I love helping people a,nd being a student of this great Faculty, I intend to make it one of all-around excellence in academics, socials, sports and welfare

Peace: Apart from the constitutional duties expected of you if you get into office, what are some of the plans that you've outlined for the association?

Peter: Thank you very much for that question. Some of my plans for the association include: structural development - The refurbishment of the Faculty's LLT in order to foster a conducive learning environment to ensure academic growth of the students, renovation of the Secretariat to ensure a proper sense of organisation and professionalism. 

Peace: Let's move from Infrastructure to Intellectualism. What are your plans to propagate intellectualism amongst Fatsssaites?

Peter: I think you're referring to academics. Though the office of the Vice President is largely responsible for academic activities, however, I have a list of things I intend to collaborate on with the Vice President to ensure academic excellence amongst Fatsssaites. They include; access to academic resources, a research writing program for improved writing skills, the creation of a committee to scout for scholarships and internships, webinars for knowledge impactment. 

Peace: Mr Adegoke, how feasible are these plans that you've laid out?

Peter: The Infrastructural development won't be a problem to achieve as I'm quite skilled in furniture making. On the issue of scholarships, I would collaborate with Professors in the Faculty and beneficiaries of scholarships to achieve this. I would work alongside the Vice President to achieve the webinars and the research writing program. For the internship program, many have asserted that it isn't an achievable feat because of the long process it takes to input it into the policy initiative of the Faculty. However, I plan to make it into voluntary program where Fatsssaites who are interested can sign up for it. This would be achieved through persuasive and diplomatic engagement with the Faculty management. 

Peace: So I want to ask, if you've begun a groundwork for all of these plans peradventure you get into office. 

Peter: Yes, I have a list of individuals that I would reach out to by sending proposals for these initiatives. I also plan to draft out plans for the new session with other members of the Executive Council during the holiday if elected. 

Peace: Can you say that the current President has been successful during his time in office?

Peter: I feel I'm not in the position to judge the office of the President. 

Peace: I'm not requiring you to pass judgment, I just want to hear your opinion on the current administration as a Fatsssaite. 

Peter: Well… I'd just say that my job is to make what is already good better. 

Peace: If elected, how would you ensure proper co-operation within the Executive Council and also among the Council and other bodies in the Faculty?

Peter: I believe we're rational and intellectual and if everyone gets their work done appropriately, there shouldn't be cases of conflicts. But if there would be, I believe in diplomacy, and the principles of transparency and accountability to resolve arising issues. Also, I plan on conducting intensive meetings within the Council to avoid such cases.

Peace: My next question is how do you intend to get Fatsssaites to engage with all of the plans you've put forward?

Peter: Being a student of the Faculty of The Social Sciences, I've come to understand that humans are driven by incentives, so I plan to employ this method. The reality is that not everyone will participate, however, we intend on getting a good number of participants. Also, I would make sure that information is sent out early, nd I plan on making use of Class Representatives, as their roles would be quite instrumental in achieving active participation.

Peace: Lastly, I want to ask if you have a plan for feedback systems such that your administration can be held accountable if elected. 

Peter: Yes, we would make use of Google Forms, anonymous links, and also I would call for a Congress, which I noticed hasn't really been observed. 

Peace: Alright, Mr Peter Adegoke, thank you so much for your time. 

Peter: Thank you very much, ma'am.