“We Had a Listening Hear, Especially when it Came to the Problem Revolving around Course Registration for Freshmen…” ISSAC LIJADU, AFAS PRES.

In an interview with AFAS PRESS Organization, Isaac Lijadu, the Faculty President, highlights his plans for the semester

AFAS PRESS: PRIOR TO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO BREAK BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS SEMESTER AND THIS ONE, WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS SEMESTER?

PRESIDENT: My expectations are a lot, one of which is tuned to satisfying AFASITES, the promises that were made to them. My team and I are working around the clock to meet the expectations of AFASITES especially that revolving around the dinner, excursions and AFAS and I.

AFAS PRESS: SO FAR, YOU HAVE SPENT A SEMESTER AS THE FACULTY PRESIDENT AND IF YOU ARE TO RECOUNT YOUR ACHIEVEMENT IN THE COURSE OF THE PREVIOUS SEMESTER, WHAT SPECIFICALLY COMES TO YOUR MIND?

PRESIDENT: So far in my administration, I will say we were closer to AFASites than the previous administration and even the one before. We had a listening hear especially when it came to the problem revolving around course registration for freshmen, we had to plead with the Dean and the Sub Dean on their behalf to give them more time and even made the process easy for them. This is just a few to mention but for this semester, our hopes are high and I implore AFASites to be expectant of what we have for them.

AFAS PRESS: STILL ON THE PREVIOUS SEMESTER, THERE WAS A NOTICE INDICATING THAT AFASITES WHO PAID FOR THE ID CARD SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR BIO DATA, HOW WOULD YOU RATE THEIR RESPONSE?

PRESIDENT: I really appreciated the response. AFASites came out in mass to write down their details. We have signed out a contract already to those that will work on the ID cards, so they should be expecting it this semester. The ID card is the type that will span throughout their entire years in the association for those that have paid and wrote down their names.

AFAS PRESS: THERE MIGHT BE AN ANTHILL OF AFASITES WHO FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER DID NOT SEE THE NOTICE PASTED BY THE EXECUTIVES AND THEREFORE COULD NOT PUT DOWN THEIR NAMES, WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO IN THIS CASE?

PRESIDENT: The session is not over so for those that will come in, their information can still be taken and given to the contractor

AFAS PRESS: DOES THIS IMPLY THAT THE INCOMING EXECUTIVE WILL NOT DEMAND FOR PAYMENT FOR NEW ID CARDS IN THE COMING SESSION?

PRESIDENT: Payment for the new ID card will only be demanded of from the incoming freshmen and those in their second year that did not get theirs. The main idea however, is that we have got a system which indicates that any administration should design ID cards that will span all through AFASites stay in the association as this will help save cost and that is like a good achievement on our part.

AFAS PRESS: YOU MENTIONED THAT AFASITES SHOULD BE EXPECTANT AS REGARDS THE EXCURSION, DINNER AND THE REST, CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC AS TO THIS EVENTS?

PRESIDENT: For the excursion, it promises to be fun-filled, informative as they will get to know more about their country and their continent as a whole. With time they will know where they are going to because we are still making our research and come up with a place where it will not just be for fun but also were they will learn.

AFAS PRESS: WHAT OTHER BENEFITS DO AFASITES STAND TO GAIN APART FROM THE EXCURSION?

PRESIDENT: AFAS & I event. For this, the vice president, the social director and I are working hand in hand to actualize this. Since it is an event that brings the Dean and AFASites together, we are putting things in place no to make it boring.

AFAS PRESS: APART FROM THESE CUSTOMARY EVENTS, IS THERE ANY PLANS TO PROMOTE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS FOR AFASITES, EVEN IF IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR MANIFESTO?

PRESIDENT: There is something already put in place as regards scholarship for AFASites. We intend sponsoring the fees of one or two students. This actually started during the time of Adeoye Adejare’s administration. Over time, it has been observed that students have this tendency to throw away opportunities given to them. Some of them came under the pretense that they do not have money for this and that and expect the association to take up the responsibility and yet they have this money but chose to take advantage of the opportunity. My administration although has given it a thought but we have not started making any plans towards it but I will speak to the executives as regards this and picking students that deem fit

AFAS PRESS: GIVEN THE NUMBER OF TALENTS IN THE FACULTY, BUT THE OUTPUT SEEMS TO BE VERY SALIENT. NOBODY HOWEVER, SEEMS TO BE DOING ANYTHING TO ENSURE THAT THESE TALENTS ARE BEING TAPPED. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THIS?

PRESIDENT: We have interest in the whole creativity ideas but one thing that is not particular about our generation is that we can’t sustain our interest and motivation. We easily get tired of pursuing our dreams. However, the excos and I are putting up a scheme. The faculty is greatly supporting the creative event, UNIIbadan got Talent by providing one of her dance rooms for the audition to take place and once the academic session is in full gear, we would send out publicity for members of the Faculty to put in for the competition. Also coming up in is an acting audition. A movie producer from Lagos is coming to the school, particularly in search of talents in Arts, thus creating platforms for creativity. We have started on this already and we are not stopping now, so we would be looking at other creative angles.

AFAS PRESS: PRIOR TO THE INCREASE OF FEES AND THE REASONS FOR IT, WHAT ENQUIRIES HAS BEEN MADE ON THE PART OF EXECUTIVES TO SEE THAT THESE REASONS ARE EFFECTED?

PRESIDENT: Something has actually been done. We provided explanations as to why the increase was made and more enquires can be made in the general office of various departments in the faculty in this regard. The student union, the body which ought to take up the matter has been paralyzed so we cannot leave our jurisdiction and start addressing things beyond us.

AFAS PRESS: LASTLY, WHAT SHOULD AFASITES EXPECT AS PACKAGES?

We are making progress concerning that. Starting from next week, students will get to see the samples of things we have in stall for them. Based on these samples or preferences, we would be able to conclude on what AFASites want.