By Oluwafemi Morolani
“We often see the role of the Finance Commissioner as just a ‘cash collector.’ I see it differently.” — Aribike Victor
One of the most sensitive positions in any student association is that of the Finance Commissioner, or Financial Secretary, as the case may be. Yet, despite its importance, the office often flies under the radar while other executive positions receive greater public scrutiny throughout an administration.
The election held during the 2024/2025 session saw the emergence of Aribike Victor as the Finance Commissioner of the Great Independence Hall after defeating Matthew Ugochukwu Blessing, who also contested for the position.
Victor, an engineering student, says he has a vision to engineer Katanga’s finances. He assured Katangites that he is not here to “drain their treasury, but to apply engineering precision to our finances.”
Before examining how he intends to achieve this vision, it is important to understand the constitutional duties of the Finance Commissioner.
According to the hall’s constitution, the Finance Commissioner is responsible for collecting all funds on behalf of the hall and is accountable for all money received. The office also oversees all financial transactions of the hall.
Other constitutional responsibilities include paying all money collected into the hall’s account within forty-eight (48) working hours, keeping all financial records of the hall, and issuing receipts for all funds accruing to the hall’s account.
The Finance Commissioner also serves as a co-signatory to the hall’s account; is required to publish the hall’s statement of account at the end of each semester; account for all funds received, and is liable for any misappropriation of such funds.
The constitution further states that the Finance Commissioner shall perform any other functions delegated by the Constitution or the Administrator General.
As the semester draws to a close, the hall’s financial statement has yet to be published as required by the constitution.
Speaking with IndyPress, Independence Hall Finance Commissioner Aribike Victor acknowledged the delay.
“I’ve reached out to the bank to get our statement of account ready and put other things in place, but we are facing some delays. In light of this, the publication of the statement of account has also been delayed,” he said.
He assure residents that the statement would be released soon.
“The statement of account will be released in the first week of the second semester,” he added.
Beyond his constitutional responsibilities, Victor outlined three major initiatives under his S.M.A.R.T. Agenda.
The Smart-Money Literacy Initiative (with the PRO)
Victor promised to introduce a financial literacy programme aimed at equipping residents with essential financial management skills.
“I will introduce the Smart-Money Literacy Initiative, a novel, digital-first campaign designed to equip every Katangite with essential financial survival skills.”
As part of the initiative, he plans to collaborate with the Hall Public Relations Officer (PRO) to launch a Financial Wellness content series.
According to him, visual content will be released regularly to improve the financial knowledge and habits of residents.
“We will design and release regular Financial Nuggets high-quality flyers, short explanatory videos, and digital content focusing on financial topics that directly affect students, including budgeting, savings apps, debt management, and investment safety.”
While Victor explained how the initiative would be implemented, he did not specify how frequently the content would be published.
The Independence Finance Summit (Hall Week Edition)
Victor also proposed introducing an Independence Finance Summit to be held during Hall Week.
According to him, integrating the summit into the Hall Week programme would reduce costs by leveraging existing logistics and attendance.
“By integrating this summit into the existing Hall Week schedule, we utilise existing logistics and crowds without incurring extra separate costs,” Victor said.
He said the summit would feature financial experts who would educate Katangites on investments, cryptocurrency safety, and navigating the economy.
However, the manifesto does not explain how these experts would be engaged or how the programme would be organised.
The Katanga Marketplace (Business Connect)
The final initiative in his agenda is aimed at supporting student entrepreneurs through the Katanga Marketplace.
“I will launch the Katanga Marketplace in strict collaboration with the PRO.”
Victor said he intends to strengthen the existing Katanga Marketplace WhatsApp group, where residents can buy, sell, and offer services.
As an upgrade to the existing platform, he also plans to use his technical skills to develop a digital business directory in PDF format to improve visibility and organisation for student businesses.
“This creates an internal economy. When a Katangite needs a service, they check the group or directory and patronise a brother first. It boosts revenue for residents without costing the Hall money,” Victor said.
Like his first proposal, this initiative relies on collaboration with the Hall Public Relations Officer. However, the manifesto does not provide a clear implementation timeline or specify when these plans will be executed.
As the session progresses, attention will remain on whether these proposals move beyond campaign promises and into measurable outcomes. For now, the question remains: Can Aribike Victor deliver as promised?
