The Switch Agenda: Broken Promises and Unmet Expectations
Opemipo Olukoga & Abdullateef Isa
Throughout the history of the Faculty of Arts, known for its intellectualism and creativity, the role of the Social Director has remained significant. Like the President, whose feats often are compared with that of his predecessor, so it is also subjected to similar parallel scrutiny. Since the events being put on for the students are to live up to or hopefully surpass the Faculty’s reputation, so there is much expected from this office. With this in mind, Awosemo Praise popularly known as Switch, while presenting his vision to AFASites, promised to foster a dynamic and inclusive community by engaging events, promoting diversity and enhancing communication channels where every student feels valued and connected. With the tenure of the present administration gradually coming to an end, the performance of the Social Director, with the promises he made during the elections, needs assessment.
Awosemo laid out his thoughts in a 4-page manifesto with the captioned agenda called The Switch Agenda, three broad plans in which the second was sub-categorized into four subheads.
After stating his allegiance to his constitutional duties, Awosemo revealed first his plan to set up a social committee to ensure representation from all the 12 departments within the faculty. According to him, this will ensure the active involvement of all AFASites in the comprehensive planning and meticulous execution of our diverse array of social and academic activities. Awosemo fulfilled this promise as some social directors of departments in the faculty attested to being a part of the committee.
This plan not only promises an inclusion of all departments in decision making regarding events which are especially created and planned for AFASites but the expectations were that it would also enhance proper implementation of creative ideas that would ensure great execution of events in the Faculty of Arts.
In his second plan, Awosemo spoke passionately about how he would be different, particularly in terms of creativity and introducing new social events, during the press night. He underlined that by doing this, he would raise the faculty’s profile and reach. Once more, this highlights the significance of the Social Director’s job and the responsibility on his shoulder, which entails coming up with ideas, reviewing them, and making sure they are realistic and won’t go awry. Under this second plan, Awosemo further highlighted and presented his other plans. Firstly, he brought out the idea of a Faculty Picnic which has not been in existence before in the history of the faculty. He mentioned that this would serve as a means whereby newly admitted AFASites and students in other levels would connect with one another in promotion of unity in the faculty. He proposed the sale of tickets and sponsorship from developing brands. Less than a month to when the New Era administration led by Olamilekan Adeniyi (Mojuba) will come to an end, this plan has not seen the light of the day. The only focus at the moment is the Finalist week which is restricted to finalists alone and is not capable of promoting unity amongst all levels like the promised faculty picnic plan.
On creative skill acquisition which is the third sub-plan under the second plan in The Switch Agenda, the Social Director’s manifesto promised, among other things, creative skill acquisition classes. However, these classes, promised to hold after the first semester exams, failed to materialize. Notably, the only skill acquisition classes under the New Era administration were organised by the Office of the Assistant General Secretary, not the Social Director. Given the current situation, there are no indications that the classes will be implemented before the New Era team’s tenure, which is nearing its end.
In the same vein, the Social Director promised a Finalist Week in his manifesto. The 11th week of the second semester has concluded and many faculties have a date for the Finalist Week. While most finalists in AFAS have joined the WhatsApp group created for this purpose and it appears plans are being made, no particular date has been slated for this event yet and one would hope that, this plan, in contrast to all of Awosemo’s prior plans that never came to pass, will be implemented so that, at the very least, he will have something to show when his term is over. Because what good is a position when one has no accomplishments to show or when no impact has been made?
Despite several attempts to reach Awosemo to state what had hindered his plans from coming into fruition, he refused to respond to the press and reacted angrily to the pressman who reached out to him. However, A manifesto review is one of the press’s core functions, and it is impossible to overstate how important the press is in reflecting the student body and encouraging accountability from student leaders. Anyone in a position of authority should understand that the press evaluating their manifesto is crucial, making sure the plan they have outlined in their manifesto are realistic is crucial, and honoring their commitments to the student body is important .
The last sub-plan under Awosemo’s second plan which is to create great social events is improving AFAS Week through the replacement of the Mr. and Miss AFAS with Face of AFAS and the introduction of a bonfire. The Social Director explained during the stakeholders meeting that this will be done during the faculty week.
On Sponsorship opportunities, the last plan stated under the third agenda of Awosemo, a town hall meeting held in November 2024. At this meeting, AFAS President, Olamilekan Adeniyi, stated the contributions of sponsors to the faculty’s programmes under Team New Era. Whether the Social Director’s efforts led to securing sponsors, one cannot say; but one thing is certain – the administration has secured sponsorship.
As the New era tenure draws to a conclusion, it is disappointing that Awosemo (Switch) who had fervently communicated his plans and commitments to the student body, has not been able to fulfill them all. The declining interest in campus elections is also as a result of this, the student leaders’ habit of embellishing their manifestoes with promises and then never keeping them – an action that is typical of our national leaders. While having a three to four page manifesto full of admirable promises is commendable, as a student leader, more work has to be done to make sure that pledges are kept and that the student body is fairly represented.
