NASELSITES HELD FIRST CONGRESS AFTER THE EMERGENCE OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION

Awoko Emmanuel

Upon the emergence of the new tenure, a congress has been held to address salient matters and underlying issues in the National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies, University of Ibadan.

The congress took place at Rm 37, Faculty of Arts, 28th of September, 2023 and it comprised students from various levels as represented.

The meeting started at 4:19 pm and it was opened by the president, Akomolafe Similoluwa. She raised the first agenda, which was the imminent need for a departmental literary and debating club. She further raised the need that Naselites should turn up to join the club and also asserted that the executives are working tremendously to coordinate the activities of the about-to-be-created club.

However, Similoluwa declared the deadline for payment of basic dues as the 15th of November 2023. And the reason, which was made unanimously in the congress, was to make packages for the NASELSites be given early. 

Also, a burden of why NASELSites do not pay for their dues was raised and many of the members present highlighted the possible causes of apathy among the NASELSites. The causes mentioned are: low publicity, departmental engagements are not interesting, the importance of the dues is not stressed, and lastly that the importance of the dues should be revealed to all NASELSites.

In addition, the curtain was drawn that anyone who refuses to pay their dues after the deadline will be restricted from joining any of the various clubs that are available in the department.

In a bid to reveal the purpose of the basic dues, the congress permits that available members should suggest what can be gotten from the money generated in the basic dues. Some of the things suggested are a small hand fan, extension box, earbud, water bottle, and umbrella.

While proceeding, the vacant seat in the executive position was rolled out, and alongside the posts were candidates nominated to fill the vacant post. After every back and forth, all the nominated candidates emerged as the winners of the positions. 

Abiodun Ihinrekanmi, a 400-level student emerged as the treasurer, also, Igbebi Glory, a 400-level student also emerged as the General Secretary while the Assistant General Secretary is Okunola Demilade, a 200-level student. After all, Afonja Samson, a 400-level student became the Sports Director for the new administration. All of them emerged victorious, unrivaled.

In the heat of the congress, a 400-level student and member of the electoral committee stood up and stated that the congress is supposed to be presided over by a team that is in absence on this day. 

She further raised the question that “Are the nominated members willing to take up the position in which they have been nominated for?” And while raising the salient issues, she broadly stated that her reason for standing is to enhance equal representation for all levels and also to prevent the future from having a cunning approach to departmental elections given that some people may want to bank on bye-election or nomination in the subsequent years to come.

Hence, the Vice president of the department also came forward to solicit student tutors who can teach some certain courses among the staylites in the department and also librarians who can always help open the departmental library within the space of 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

In the end, the meeting ended with the introduction of every NASELSite in the congress.