Further highlighting their plans to address student welfare, UI SU presidential aspirants, Ayomide Oluwole (Sanjay) and Covenant Odedele, shared their plans for tackling the rising cost and difficulty of securing off-campus accommodation
During the Ongoing UI SU Press Night and Presidential Debate both candidates acknowledged the pressing nature of the housing crisis and proposed different approaches to ease the burden on students.
Sanjay suggested direct engagement with real estate agents to regulate agency fees. “We’ll call for meetings with all agents and stop them from bringing the excesses of agent fees,” he stated.
On the other hand, Covenant emphasized structured negotiations between the Student Union and landlords. “I will write a comprehensive report, and there will be a liaison with the Student Union and property owners to ensure safety,” he explained.
When asked about the feasibility of their plans, especially regarding engagement with landlords and agents, the candidates held differing views.
Sanjay maintained that lowering hostel fees would not necessarily deter students from seeking off-campus accommodation. “Reducing the price of hostel fees will not stop people from going off-campus. My former advice will be better,” he said.
“We will do everything within our possible best to sensure that students do not pay picket tearing fees,” he reiterate.
Covenant, while admitting that students would continue to seek off-campus housing regardless, pledged to resist any hike in hostel fees. “Even if it is reduced, students will still go off-campus, but we will try as much as possible to stop hikes in hostel fees,” he stated.
