As the heat of the NASS election is increasing with common and breathtaking campaigns from aspirants at major places on campus, AAUA INSIDER decided to greet the aspirants and engage an aspirant for the position of the President of Nigeria Association of science student − ADEKANYE AYOMIPOSI BLESSING ‘Vibrancy’ in an exclusive interview.
KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
By virtue of nomenclature, I am ADEKANYE AYOMIPOSI BLESSING. I am politically and popularly known as “Vibrancy” on campus. I am an aspirant for the leadership postion of NASS001. I am in 400lv of the department of plant science and bio-technology.
WE HAVE OTHER VITAL POSITIONS, WHY THE POSITION OF THE PRESIDENT?
I will give you an applause for that outsatnding question, NASS001 is not something I just woke up and declared for, NASS 001 is a long conceived decision.
WHAT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS POSITION?
I have been in this university for the past 4years when it comes to student representation and leadership, I can say I am well experienced. I started as a class representative and had the opportunity to work with a lot of faculty of science presidents, the likes of SK, Nasiru (O Nas). During the period of working with them, I conceived the vision of assuming the leadership position when I was in 200level because I am already in the system and I know the nooks and cranny of everything needed to handle the position. I did not relent at that, I also engaged myself politically from my very own constituency, I just handed over the position of General Secretary. I am the immediate past General Secretary of National association of Plant Science and Bio-technology. I am not jumping into the post I am going for, it’s something I have long conceived. By the grace of God and by You and by the whole faculty student populace, I am going to assume that leadership position.
WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES WHEN YOU WERE A GENERAL SECRETARY?
Pertaining to the Secretary of National Association of Plant Science and Bio-technology, in every secretariat, there are issues and challenges that you will definitely face. One of the major challenge i faced when I was a General Secretary was that the ability to relay informations to the superiors, for example, I need to pass through the Hod, Dean and other hierarchy before delivering an information to the vice chancellor it can be very stressful. When I was preparing for one of the freshers orientation and it was fast approaching, passing through the protocol was a very stressful journey while I was on IT to send down letter headed papers and write on behalf of the department, sending down articles from the Secretariat.
WHAT OTHER POSITIONS HAVE YOU HELD?
I have been the class rep from 100level till 400lv and I am the immediate past Librarian of my fellowship; Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students. So when it comes to tutorials and impacting student based on classes and night classes, I handle that very well and I am very experienced in impacting students educational wise.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE THE AFFAIRS OF THE FACULTY IF YOU EMERGE?
If I eventually emerge as the President of NASS firstly, according to my theme; rejuvenation, though the structure is there but the structure needs a touch. In other words, we are going to bring back some liveliness in the Faculty. I will start with the conditions of classrooms. I was at tet650 on friday and the condition I met the students made me really down that I have to save the situation cause some of the students were sitting on the ground without a public address system, imagine a very large classroom. So, I have to improvise and get them a public address system.
I am going to make classrooms friendly to students and lecturers because I am not always comfortable in a class without public address system.
Science is known for research and innovations. I am going to bring a program that will unite students tech or innovation wise. In that sense, all departments under Faculty of Science can relate together and actually bring about things that can really impact us technical and innovation wise and other programs like the debate and also partnership(programs) with NASS in other schools. That’s just a tip of iceberg of what I have in stock for NASSite.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD-FATHERISM OR BELIEVE IN YOUR WORK WITH STUDENTS?
Definitely there is something called godfatherism and yes but i might not believe in that school of thought. Let me be straight here, there is influence and affluence. You can not compare someone that can influence 20votes. I don’t really believe in godfatherism. Though it is good to have political leaders. If you have a godfather and you are in a post, you can’t make your own decision but i believe there are leaders and people who can influence.
HOW WILL YOU FEEL IF YOU LOOSE?
First, I am not a looser. It is either i win or win because in politics there is nothing like loosing. It is either you win or learn, that’s why it’s a win win game. So peradventure I win in the other way round then I have learnt my lesson and I have gain some experiences as well. There are better things ahead, so why should i be down? I think I will be fine.
IF YOU WIN, HOW DO YOU INTEND TO WORK WITH YOUR OTHER EXECUTIVES WITHOUT DISPUTES?
There is this saying I love, “A leader makes a possession, a possession does not make a leader” that’s why a leader needs an experience to coordinate people. I have a bulk of experience on leadership, Ihave different ways of handling people. Human beings can’t be controlled but there are ways you can have them do what you want. I believe I can coordinate my Executives due to my experiences in the administrative position I have been. I love working with team, they are going to work.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC VOTING AND THE HIKE IN FORM FEE?
I personally kick against E-voting and my reason is, it is well spelt out in the NASS Constitution that the mode of election should be by closed ballot system. Coming with a new innovation of such should be discussed with people or during congress for proper discussion.
According to them, it’s an offline vote, it can easily be controlled unlike online vote. E-voting is zero cause it can be easily tampered.
The form fee is too exuberant for the aspirants. We the aspirant are there to serve, what’s the reason for hiking the fee? I see no reason for paying such huge amount for E-voting. I am sure the electoral committee will have a reason which is unknown to me.
WHAT MEASURES HAVE YOU PUT IN PLACE AS AN ASPIRANT FOR THE POST OF NASS001?
As an aspirant, it has not been easy on me going to classes, campaign, as regards the possible means to pass my message across or to make people aware of Vibrancy is by going to classes irrespective of their department and levels and preaching, canvassing to them and begging for their support. Aside from that, I have my team that works for me if I am not around. I also have tags bearing my name and have them talk to their friends.
FINAL WORD FOR NASSITE.
My final word for NASSite is this, election is coming up 2nd of November. All nassites knows the right man, the person that can sail the boat to its high podge. All NASSite knows the one with experiences and knows about administrative sagacity and i believe this is a game of choice and i believe all NASSites select the best man, I hope all NASSites votes for Vibrancy.
Thank you
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