OF MYRIAD OF PROMISES: A MANIFESTO AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF OLANIYI ESTHER, PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF FACULTY OF ARTS

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Oyedokun Agnes Tioluwanimi

In every faculty, the role of the student government is pivotal in building a community and representing the student body. In each academic session, students vie for positions with a set of promises and a vision for change and improvement. It’s crucial to always assess how well these promises outlined in their manifestos are realized.

Olaniyi Esther, popularly known as Ayanfe, the President of the Association of Faculty of Arts Students (AFAS), University of Ibadan, campaigned on a platform that pledged a transformative vision for enhancing the faculty experience. Her promises included fostering networking and collaboration, promoting youth entrepreneurship and business development, enhancing academic excellence with a help desk initiative, connecting with alumni, improving the aesthetic appeal of the faculty premises, nurturing arts and creative talents, and encouraging sports and extracurricular activities.

As we progress into the second semester, questions arise; to what extent has she delivered on these promises? What steps has she been taking to ensure these commitments are met before her term ends? Will she follow in the footsteps of some past student leaders who seem to forget their manifestos after winning the elections?

Student leadership/governance is an intricate dance, where campaign promises serve as the guiding compass for an administration’s trajectory. Olaniyi Esther’s journey as the AFAS President has been a nuanced exploration of challenges, accomplishments, and a steadfast commitment to fostering positive change within the student community.

Five months into her presidency, Esther stands at a critical juncture, where the aspirations outlined in her manifesto intersect with tangible outcomes. At the core of her promises were initiatives spanning networking, academic excellence, faculty aesthetics, and youth entrepreneurship. A closer examination reveals notable strides and areas that demand continued focus and strategic planning.

In parallel, Esther’s vision to foster vibrant connections among diverse students materialized in the Creative Community” initiative, conceived as a hub for collaboration and expression. In the hub’s nascent stages, waiting to blossom, a tangible success emerged through the Faculty’s newly launched tutorials program. Last semester, during an interview with AFAS Press, Olaniyi reassured the Press that her promises would not remain unfulfilled and shared the steps she was already taking to fulfil them.

She said, “For the networking groups and regular hangouts, we created a group called ‘Creative Community’ and we are working on it. We’ll still have them this first semester. We were meant to start three weeks ago but something happened at that point, so we had to hold on. I already spoke with the AGS since we are both working on it. We were meant to have a real estate seminar, but because of the fewer number of weeks we have in the first semester, it will be held in the second semester.”

Measures were later put in place to enable this creative community to be actualized as a WhatsApp group was opened, yet its feasibility seems impractical.

Another promise included in the manifesto is the upgrading of the aesthetics of the faculty surroundings. Esther’s commitment to faculty aesthetics remains unwavering. Ongoing discussions with the people in charge of the Nescafe Garden for support in revamping the garden’s (and the faculty’s) aesthetics demonstrate her dedication to transforming the physical environment of the faculty. Anticipated progress in this semester underscores the administration’s dedication to uplifting the overall appearance of the faculty.

Improving academic excellence is a central theme in Esther’s manifesto. She promised to organize tutorials, academic seminars, an academic committee, a help desk and inter-departmental debate contests. As of last semester, Esther had implemented a tutorial program and a link was sent out for about two to three weeks for interested tutors to fill. These tutorial sessions, which operated from Fridays to Sundays last semester, catered to both freshers and upperclassmen, bridging the gap between academic rigours and student support. With dedicated volunteers focusing on specific courses, the program offers a lifeline to struggling students, fostering a sense of community and mutual learning. Now, the faculty boasts of operational tutorials, academic seminars, and a readily accessible help desk— a veritable arsenal against academic roadblocks. Further seminars are slated for this semester, promising to continue the crusade for academic prowess.

Also, youth entrepreneurship has not been overlooked in Olaniyi’s leadership. Collaborations with the alumni and plans for a real estate seminar highlight her commitment to promoting entrepreneurship and business development among the student body. By tapping into the expertise of former students, she aims to provide valuable insights and opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs within AFAS.

In a recent interview, Olaniyi revealed her achievements as well as her challenges so far. Speaking on her achievements, Esther mentioned the establishment of a cordial relationship with the faculty management which has always been a consistent issue.
Also, she said, “we have worked on the cleaning of the environment and the New Annex Hall. When they opened the new building, they didn’t assign any cleaner to it, so the Association’s General Secretary worked on that, as well as the Social Director who doubles as the welfare director. Two or three Saturdays in the first semester, the Social Director and his team cleaned the toilets with their own personal resources.”


However, she mentioned that one thing she failed to do was the plan to have a bursary which could not be actualized since the UISU had a bursary scheme already. Furthermore, she claimed to have helped three students pay their session fees.

According to her, one of the challenges she has experienced is that “within the Executive Council, one of the major challenges was setting up Committees, the executives did not quickly gather their committee. Even when they had committees, they had few members and we couldn’t do much with just a few people. So it was a setback that we didn’t have many people working with us, it is one of the things I will look into in the second semester— to make people see that this is the Faculty of Arts and it is for everyone, and not just the Executives.”

From the omniscient perspective, the initial scepticism from the student body, coupled with difficulties in setting up committees, threw sand into the gears of Olaniyi’s administrative machine in the first semester. Yet, true leadership shines in adversity. The president’s efforts to address the mandatory purchase of journals, a contentious issue that sparked student unrest, showcased her unwavering dedication to her mandate. She claimed to have ensured no student was disallowed to write exams as a result of the lack of a faculty journal made compulsory. She claims to have made efforts to ensure the purchase of this journal is pushed to the second semester while the mandatory purchase of the Classics journal, for a particular classics course offered by students of other departments in the faculty, was brought to an abrupt stop. Despite facing resistance from the Faculty management, she actively communicated the concerns of the student body, advocating for flexibility and a student-centric approach.

Olaniyi’s tenure acknowledged lower-than-expected student involvement. Recognizing this, she attributes the phenomenon to communication gaps and vows to improve publicity for future events to foster active participation. This reflection on challenges demonstrates a leader’s capacity for self-assessment and adaptability—a crucial trait in navigating the dynamic landscape of student governance.

As the second semester unfolds, Esther promises a more eventful and memorable experience for AFASites. Initiatives such as real estate mentorship, final-year project training, and skill acquisition programs underscore her commitment to holistic student development. By incorporating these elements into the student experience, Esther seeks to create an environment where academic success and personal growth go hand in hand.

In conclusion, navigating the promises outlined in her manifesto, Olaniyi Esther has steered the AFAS ship through a semester of challenges and accomplishments. Her progress reflects not only a commitment to the goals set forth during her campaign but also an ability to adapt and respond to the evolving needs of the student community. As the second semester unfolds, Esther’s administration remains dedicated to the continuous journey towards positive change within the Association of Faculty of Arts, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, academic excellence, and holistic student development.

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