UADS DECIDES 2023: "I AM CONFIDENT ABOUT MY TRACK RECORD, ABILITY AND PLANS" - PATRICK OKELUE, PRO ASPIRANT
Good evening, Patrick. Can you tell me about yourself; your class and the post you’re running for?
Good evening. My name is Amaechi Patrick Okelue, and I’m from the 300 level class. I am running for the position of the Public Relations Officer (P.R.O) of the Unibadan Association of Dental Students (UADS).
What was your inspiration to run for this post?
Over the years, I have come to realise my genuine interest for delivery of proper and accurate information and updates. In 2020, I was moved to serve as a source of information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and ASUU strike. I made use of my small space–WhatsApp status, and I was able to reduce occurrence of misconceptions and spurious news updates among members of my contact list. Moving on, this has moved me to become involved in a number of publicity committees, and I have learnt the importance of good publicity.
Seeing as UADS has improved as an association over the few years, I believe the publicity and image-making process of the association needs quality hands, and since I’ve worked under two past PROs of the association and been taught the ropes of the association’s publicity, I want to take up the position to contribute my quota to the growth of the association with respect to publicity.
What are the challenges you think the association faces/has faced in time past, in terms of publicity and effective communication between the class arms?
Four major challenges, actually.
1. Delayed release of flyers
2. Errors with the names of UADS members in birthday flyers for the month and exam wishes
3. Unsatisfactory engagement of posts on the association’s handles
4. Unresponsiveness of committee members, especially towards the end of the tenure.
Apart from your interest in running for this post, what skill(s) in particular do you think you possess that make you fit for the job?
I have flair for writing, and I have demonstrated my prowess in this by emerging winner of NIMASA 2020 World Maritime Day Essay competition. This flair is influential in my capacity to make written content, as I have utilised this in the different publicity committees I’ve worked under; serving as social media manager in some. I believe the quality of written content, and public releases of the association should be impeccable, and I will be functioning to create and edit content created by my committee members (if elected) to suit the taste of the proposed audience.
The Annual UADS Healthweek is an integral part of the association and over the years, the success of the healthweek has been partly attributed to publicity.
Have you been a part of the Healthweek publicity committee before? If yes, when exactly?And how active will you say you were in those committees? You can highlight the roles you played in the committees.
Yes, I have been part of the health week publicity committee before. I was a member of the 40th health week publicity committee, and essentially served as the representative of my class and the preclinical arm, then. I was responsible for sensitising my classmates to assist with reposting health week content, and the turnout from them was impressive. I was a member and Co-head of the 41st health week publicity committee. The outgoing PRO and I worked together to ensure the publicity was perfect, and I also deputised in her absence, especially when she was really busy with her Part II examination. I was responsible for dues collection for the committee, assisted with attractive captions for some of our releases, and sensitised members of the committee to post and remind their classmates to post our content.
Were there any challenges you experienced while in the committees? If yes, how did you address them?
Yes, there was. Some members of the committee were not responsive. Also, due to this, we couldn’t get support with handling the social media pages. We addressed this issue by sending personal reminders to those that could be convinced to be more responsive, then constantly reminded them that their certificates of membership of the committee were hinged on their participation. We also took on the role of posting on the social media pages ourselves to reduce the lapses the committee was facing internally.
You’re running unopposed for now, to the best of my knowledge. Do you think that gives you a higher chance of getting elected, or you’re confident of getting elected even if you had an opponent?
While it may seem that I have a higher chance of being elected by virtue of running unopposed, I believe the provision of the constitution puts me at a position where I may not be elected if I don’t get a required percentage of votes. About being confident of getting elected, even if I had an opponent, my stance–even while being unopposed, now – remains same. The only thing I’m confident about now is my track record, ability, and plans.
Can you give UADS members a summarized hint of your plans that are unique and new from those of the past P.R.O.s?
1. I intend to work closely with the Assistant General Secretary to ensure a review of the database as this will alleviate the issues of wrong names or dates of birth for monthly birthday flyers and examination wishes.
2. Inclusion of 100 level class in examination flyer tradition, and personalisation of the exam flyers
3. Working hands-in-glove with the editor-in-chief of the Dentatics Press to redesign her logo
4.Sharing of opportunities (scholarships and competitions/contests) to members of UADS
5. Return of “Dental Digest” magazine
6. Distribution and sales of printed stickers to association members
Anything you’ll like to say to UADS Members?
UADS, the association that has stood the test of time and proven to be the best among equals. This association houses great individuals, and I can never be more proud to be a member. I want to admonish members of UADS to keep representing the association well. I hope that as I continue sharing my plans with you all in the coming days prior to the election, you will see the need to give me your votes, and more importantly, support me in actualisation of my plans if I get elected–as I cannot do all alone. Thank you.
Adebomi Deborah
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