By: Sonaike Peter 

Adegoke Yusuf, a 300-level student of the Department of Arts and Social sciences Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, emerged President of the Faculty’s students’ association. Yusuf had the most votes, while Ojuolape Festus Mayowa, his opponent, was a runner-up.

His plans, tagged “The Fortitude” centered on academic and career welfare, mental wellness initiatives, maintenance of Large Lecture Theater (LLT), innovating and sustainability of NUESA events, and his fundraising strategies.

Addressing Academic and Career Welfare – Teaching Practice 

Adegoke Yusuf, fondly called ‘Professor’, promised to support educators, by identifying the academic challenges they face, which negatively impact their professional growth and academic success.

IndyPress having observed that students from the Faculty of Education lagged behind during their teaching practice program, not addressed in his manifesto, asked about what his intervention would be.

Responding, Adegoke Yusuf assured educators that he would inform the teaching practice coordinator about their plight with the view of addressing it.

He also assured the teaching practice students that necessary information would be passed across to them through the office of the Public Relations Officer, with regards to their welfare during their teaching practice program.

Adegoke Yusuf also stated that there would be distribution of “academic resources across different departments and levels through the use of google form, as well as career opportunities and course offerings to help expand access to diverse and relevant courses that meet the needs and interests of all students such as STEM courses.”

However, IndyPress observed that the candidate failed to draw a real-time correlation between what he termed STEM courses and the various disciplines in the Faculty of Education.

The president-elect also promised fresh students with ‘orientation talks’ (expected to be more than one) to support their professional growth.

Addressing the inferiority complex among freshers and the stigmatization he claimed they experienced, Adegoke promised comprehensive information on various courses, highlighting their relevance with the view to boost the confidence of educators taking the various courses.

In collaboration with the Academic Director of the Faculty, Adegoke promised to provide continuous tutorial support to freshers and sophomore students focusing on “faculty courses and teaching methodologies”. By teaching methodologies, his manifesto did not state its defined details.

He also stated that sophomores will be given focus on enhancing there research methodology or project writing skills.

On Mental wellness Initiatives

Adegoke Yusuf promised to raise awareness about mental health and its significance, reduce stigma associated with mental health discussions and provide support and resources to Faculty of Educators students, in a bid to help achieve a better mental well-being.

Adegoke Yusuf stated he planned to achieve the initiative by organizing a mental health awareness campaign during NUESA Week, inviting mental health professionals to share insights and advice, as well as providing students and staff resources and referrals. By resources, the President-elect did not define his term, even during the electioneering campaign.

Addressing the Sorry-State of Faculty of Education Large Lecture Theater (LLT)

The President-elect promised to propose the designation of Environmental Sanitation Day once in a semester ‘to promote awareness among educators about the importance of maintaining a clean and hygienic environment, free from unpleasant odours and hazards.’

He also assured outright purchase of a public address system for proper lecture.

In an interview with IndyPress, Mr. Yusuf assured that there would be consistent maintenance of the LLT, while stating that his administration would have a dialogue with the Faculty management to ensure it’s revamp.

The Faculty LLT has not been conducive for learning activity, IndyPress can report.

Recall that IndyPress had reported about the state of the Faculty Large Theater Lecture in the first semester, which caused an inconvenience for users.

Innovation And Sustainability of NUESA Events

Mr. Adegoke Yusuf promised to introduce an educational summit to ensure growth of NUESA events. IndyPress observed that he did not state a distinguished innovation as an improvement to the tradition of the summit.

He also promised to provide educators with curriculum vitae and graphic design programs, in a bid to learn how to create an official and standardized curriculum vitae.

Adegoke Yusuf also promised to execute Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative to give back to the society by empowering secondary school students with essential skills, knowledge and exposure to higher learning opportunities. The CSR, as observed by IndyPress, had no further detailed specification.

On Inaccessible Faculty of Education Male and Female Conveniences

The Faculty of Education toilets have been locked since the previous session. This implies that students in the faculty have had to deal with difficulties when they are in need of a natural ease.

Addressing the concern of the Faculty toilets, which have been in a bad state, the president-elect promised to collaborate with Heads of Department and Faculty management to rehabilitate the toilets.

When asked what the major contention was, Adegoke explained that the issue with the toilet was a leakage, which has made it unfit for use. He confirmed that the management is working towards refurbishing it.

“The state of the toilet according to the source that I have is leakage, although there might still be other things which happen not to be clear to us but the major issue is the leakage. I and the colleagues (outgoing administration)have met with the faculty management concerning the toilet and they kept saying that they are working on it,” the President-elect told IndyPress.

Wheeling the Plans – On Fundraising 

Under his fundraising plan, the Faculty of Education President-elect promised to build and maintain a relationship with the Alumni, updating them on events and involving them in “fundraising efforts”. He also stated that attention would be given to companies with good CSR objectives.

Adegoke further stated that he would foster relationships with the university authorities, including the Sub-Dean, Dean, Heads of Department and lecturers.

He plans to obtain a letter from the Faculty to the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, requesting a list of alumni, which he would use to establish connections and involve alumni in fundraising efforts.