UADS DECIDES 2023: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ADELOLA AYOMIDE, ASPIRANT FOR ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY POSITION

Dentatics Press met with Mr Adelola Ayomide Abel, the candidate running for the position of Assistant General Secretary in an exclusive interview.

Good afternoon, can you introduce yourself, your level and the position you’re vying for?

Good afternoon, I am Adelola Ayomide Abel. I am currently in 200 level and I’m vying for the position of Assistant General Secretary.

What is the role of an Assistant General Secretary?

Well, according to the UADS constitution, one of the roles of an Assistant General Secretary is to represent the General Secretary in his or her absence. Also, the Assistant General Secretary is the chairman of the fresher orientation programs, the deputy chairman of the health week and lastly, the Assistant General Secretary will carry out any duties assigned to him by the executive council.

What inspired you to run for this position?

I like to serve people and this is one of the ways I can do that. I have served in the Senate and  coming to the executive seems like the right position to serve people.

You mentioned that you served in the Senate, can you list a number of other political positions you have held in UADS?

Yes, I have served as a member of CODEH during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 sessions. A member of the class sport committee during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 sessions, a member of the constitutional review committee during the session 2021/2022. I was also the class rep for my class during 100 level and I’m currently a senator and  the assistant class rep for the 2021/2022 session. And so on.

That’s quite a lot of positions you’ve held. You’re currently running unopposed, has this given you the assurance of being elected as the AGS?

I believe people will vote for who they think is capable for this position. The screening, press night and manifesto night will reveal my capability for this position.

Alright, tell me about a time you had to get people with different viewpoints to the same level of understanding. Give a scenario.

I think this happens a lot in my class academic committee. Whenever a tutorial date is fixed, class members tend to choose time that suites their schedule. Some might choose night, some would prefer after-class tutorials. In this situation, being the current assistant class representative, I try to persuade them to conclude on a date that’s best for everyone. Another alternative is to use the voting method, the time/suggestion with the highest votes is what we stick to.  Also in football, when a member of the class sport committee suggests a 4-3-3 position and another suggests a 4-2-1-3 position, I make sure that the football team comes together and pick a position that will serve us right while making use of everyone’s ideas.

What type of document or correspondence have you been opportuned to prepare?

Currently, we are preparing for the health week at Sultan Bello Hall and I am part of the health committee. I have personally prepared letters to invite Asido Organization, The Nigerian Red Cross UI Chapter and The University Health Service at Jaja Clinic. Letters to Asido and UHS have been sent and responses have been received.

The invitations have been accepted?

Yes, they’ve  been accepted.

How do you spend your leisure time?

I watch movies, I play football, I play football games and I also play tennis.

How do you define teamwork?

Team work is a term used when people with different skills come together to achieve a goal. To cite a  example, before the beginning of any academic session, my class senators call for members to join the different committees that have been created to oversee the progress of the class. Examples of such committees are the social, academic, financial,  welfare and  sport committee. The calling of members to serve in this committee, is a way to get the whole class involved in the progress of the class. That’s team work.

What are the qualities of a good team player you think you possess that would help you to work with the incoming General Secretary, if elected?

Dedication, Transparency, Accountability, the list goes on but I think those are the core ones I think I have that would help me in this aspect.

Lastly, where do you see yourself in five years? 

In five years? I don’t know yet. Let five years come.

 

Bello Victoria Taiwo