A LOT OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS WEREN'T PUBLICIZED---VICE PRESIDENT

NCB: Good morning Ma’am Vice President. It’s our pleasure to have you here again.

VP: Thank you.

NCB: Firstly, I must appreciate your availability everytime you’re needed.
Isn’t this going to change once you attain a greater post?

VP: You’re welcome!
It’s not going to change, I will get better.

NCB: This is the second time we are having you here as a guest. You’re welcome.
Tell us about your ambition.

VP: I, for a space of about two years have served as the Vice President of our dear Union. This experience has helped me see practically the issues faced by fellow students on and off campus. I, in my capacity as VP solved as many as I could. Contesting for the position of the President will help me solve many more issues and help maintain the pace and place of our Union amongst many other Unions around Nigeria and beyond. And this is what gave birth to my ambition and passion to serve the student community again.

NCB: What exactly have you done to ameliorate the blighted system and the issues that appeared (and still appearing) to you while in the office? And, what are the issues?

VP: First of all, I wasn’t the President and there were limited things i could do.

However, concerning health issues between students and the health center, a committee was set up, which is still functioning, so as to help the nurses and doctors in attending to students. This has eased the work load on the health workers and help students get health care faster.

Concerning academics, during first semester, I and my team organized tutorials for students so as to aid the students in their tests and exams. On transportation, we were able to fix some buses but due to too many faults, they used to break down from time to time.

On the security of students, the Security Volunteers helped in attending to cases and solved a lot like debt issues, accommodation issues, relationships issues and more.

I took up rape and sexual abuse cases on campus.

Of course, there are numerous challenges and issues on campus, I believe with the cooperation of students we can fix it, one at a time

NCB: Thank you. You were not the President!
If you were the President, would you have done it better?

VP: Yes! I firmly believe that.

NCB: What specific changes or improvements would you like to implement if elected as the President of the Sudents’ Union?

VP: First, I will promote inclusiveness and accessibility. Every student is a meaningful stakeholder in the Union, I will ensure that I amplify the interests and voices of students and project it at all time.

On security, we celebrate security of lives on campus due to our efficient traditions on campus and the consciousness that the union was built on.
This needs to be extended to off campus too and the security of their lives and properties are of paramount concern. I will set up a Union Off-campus Security Committee that will be properly trained and set to work with security agencies off campus to the end that our students are safe guarded. The Union Off-campus Security Committee will have several units in different major places occupied by students like; Asherifa, Mayfair, Lagere, Ibadan road and many other places.

On Accomodation, 4 out of 10 cases treated by the Union Security Volunteers were accommodation issues. 65/70% of our students stay off campus and are faced with accommodation issues like; high cost of rents, agent issues, availability of water in the hostels off campus and more. I, alongside the CEC will set up a committee that will serve as agents between students and landlords so as to get the reduced cost of renting hostels and easy access to the houses/rooms.

On Transportation, I will work with the Alumni body to donate buses to the Union so as to convey students at lesser prices. The Sabo/lagere drivers needs competitors to bring them on the table to reduce transportation cost.

NCB: Would you create inclusiveness or promote it and how?

VP: I will create consciousness of students through effective communication, the consciousness of every students will birth inclusiveness, and as a leader I will keep promoting it.

NCB: The reason why I have asked you that question is to know whether such thing (inclusiveness) is in existence already and all you need is to do is to promote what has been created or promote what does not exist.

VP: I got that! There’s low level of consciousness amidst students.

NCB: I want to know your view on the accommodation on campus. Do you agree that justice is done on how beds paces are being allocated to students?

VP: Well, I am of the opinion that more students can be accommodated on campus. For example, a block is presently undergoing renovations at Awo, the occupants of the block were made to stay at other blocks pending when the renovation will be done. This means that there are bed spaces left unallocated for. Besides, if the rooms are well ventilated, the rooms will be able to take more persons. Hence, with adequate ventilation, good bunks and enough water supply, the hostels can accommodate more students. This is one of the issues I look forward to solving in conjunction with the Hall Chairpersons and DSA.

We need more hostels on campus!
I will facilitate this with the help of the Alumni body. This is not a day project , the planning will start with my Administration.

NCB: I’m not even talking about the creation of more hostels now.
I mean, the way students get accommodation and the fact that you also testified to the point that many spaces are left unallocated for; do you think getting spaces is based on who is who?

VP: Sometimes, the reason they do not allocate all the rooms is due to the conditions of the room. If the bunks were in good shape with good bed they’ll allocate the rooms. Some rooms don’t have good doors and nets, if this is solved, the rooms should be allocated.

NCB: Are you saying that the available rooms in all halls of residence can be exhausted within five minutes when procuring?

VP: Yes, it’s possible! We have over 40 thousands students on campus.

NCB: Alright. How would you describe your relationship with Mr President?

VP: I must say that it has not been a smooth ride as we have had ups and downs, good and bad all in the best interest of Great Ife students.
In my capacity as VP, I think I have served Mr President well and ensured that I take instructions from him as it best suits the entirety of Great Ife Students’ Union.

NCB: How do you plan to build trust and rebuild the reputation of the Students’ Union considering the dissatisfaction many students have with the current administration?

VP: This present administration tried her best but it is obvious that her best isn’t enough. I served as the VP which is the next position to the President and it allowed me the opportunity to know the workload of the office. This administration had a lot of issues due to the long strike and breaks, the Union was just reinstated when we got into office and the need to find our feet was a lot. I have been able to understand the workings of the Union and I know what to do when and how, unlike when I just got into office. The experience I gathered as VP will help me achieve more administratively and in solving the issues faced by fellow students.

I also know that a lot of our achievements weren’t publicized. This caused a limitation in students knowing what was achieved. Provided I get elected as President, this achievement will be published as soon as they are achieved. I will not only work on achieving things and solving problems but create quality time to listen to the pleas of students so as to solve specific problems as they arise.

NCB: I wouldn’t have loved to end it here but because of your tight schedule, we are calling it a rap here. There are lots more to know about your ideology and I believe justice will be done at your manifesto’s ground, Thank you for your time. Good luck.

VP: Thank you for having me.