As part of concerted efforts to provide credible reports and reviews on the candidates and the electoral process of the UISU, UCJUI under its Election Watch Room Initiative reached out to UISU House Secretary aspirant, Adeboye Temidayo. In this exclusive chat with UCJ correspondents, Adeboye spoke about his candidacy and his plan to improve students welfarism.
UCJ: Good day everyone. Welcome to this fifth interview of the UCJUI Election Watch Room interview session. Today, we have with us the House Secretary aspirant, Mr. Adeboye Temidayo.
UCJ: Can you introduce yourself?
Deboye: My name is Adeboye Temidayo, popularly and politically known as Deboye. I’m a 200-level student of the Faculty of Arts, European Studies. A resident of Nnamdi Azkiwe Hall of Residence.
UCJ:Why are you running for the post of House Secretary and what makes you think you’re the appropriate candidate for this role?
Deboye: I believe that the position of the SU House secretary is more than occupying a seat or an office but rather it is a push and drive to have an impact on students’ welfare. I’ve seen issues, challenges, problems, that I believe that if I assume the SU House Secretary position, there are plans that are ready through the House Mission Agenda that is ready to tackle these problems because these plans aren’t issues but mission that can be accomplished and one of the reasons I’m contesting for this position. I know the issues affecting students’ welfare and I know what to do to address the issues.
UCJ: You’ve mentioned issues affecting students and student welfarism, can you state these issues and how to intend to tackle those issues?
Deboye: Issues affecting students welfare ranges from the health sector to transportation, electricity supply, the social and creativity. Asides my constitutional duties, the House Mission Agenda is promising 3 major objectives that aim to address these issues.
Mission 1: Promoting healthy lifestyle and wellbeing. This deals with health, transportation. For health, there’ll be collaboration with the University Health Center (Jaja clinic) to have initiatives like Health Walk, Cleaning Activities in Halls of Residence. There’ll be a launching of an e-service system where students can contact their doctors. On transportation, there’ll be expansion of cabs and keke for easy coverage. Also, there’ll be the launching of community transport networks just like our Uber and inDrive but ours will be a local form of these transport systems where students can order their ride from their diverse locations and address their discomfort.
Mission 2: Ensuring Campus Comfort and safety. This entails security, price regulation, and electricity supply. For electricity supply, I will ensure swift response to electrical issues whenever it happens, and also assist with maintenance and work with necessary help when there are electrical issues and also communicate with the students when there’s an electrical fault.
Mission 3: Strengthening students support system.
UCJ: These plans will require capital and manpower. The current House Secretary also has a similar health plan related to yours at Jaja clinic but didn’t fulfill it due to supposedly low capital and manpower. How do you intend to get funds?
Deboye: There are issues I have seen, which has prompted my decision to vie for the position of House Secretary. As a good leader, it is paramount to attack the issues you note before you get to the office. As I stated earlier that it is more than occupying a seat, it is more of impacting students welfare. Without being in office, I’ve had a series of meetings with the Director of UHS, Dr. Ajav concerning how we’d implement these steps; finances and all that. And this step has led to a meeting with an organization called DOKIA and this e-service organization is ready to launch immediately I assume position. For the aspect of funding and manpower, we’ve settled it all, we’re waiting for the implementation which won’t be difficult because there are laid down solutions to these problems.
UCJ: You seem so confident in your plans, what should UItes expect in your first 100 days?
Deboye: In my first 100 days in office, students should expect improvement most especially in the health sector because that’s the biggest problem on campus.
UCJ: Can you give a specific percentage in terms of the health sector? Are you assuring students that the waiting time will reduce drastically in your first 100 days in office?
Deboye: Like I said, there are solutions to the problems on ground. I’m only waiting for the launch. I’ve deliberated with the organization and they are ready to work with me. So I can assure that the health sector will improve in the first 100 days.
UCJ: What are your plans for price regulation and transportation on campus? The current House Secretary didn’t achieve much in this aspect, even with his price regulation committee they couldn’t enforce price regulation list for vendors considering the scene at Independence hall.
Deboye: I’m a resident of Nnamdi Azikwe Hall and the Chief Whip. Currently, we just passed a bill for the hall chairman’s assent which has to do with price regulation in Zik hall. And I’m actively participating in this process, because I know that it is one thing I’d like to implement at the Student Union level. This bill in Zik hall explains how to go about the price regulation scheme. We’ll have a data of goods majorly bought by students, where we’ll take the statistics of the goods and prices and we’ll approach vendors who have reasonable price lists as standard for those that sell at high rate. By doing this, we’ll have a regulated price list and any vendor who refuses to agree to the terms and conditions will have to drop the selling of such goods and sell other goods.
UCJ: At the last SU press night, a presidential candidate said something similar to what you have proposed earlier about the price regulation scheme which is difficult because the cost of production differs; some vendors turn on generators to run their business and also the current economic status of the country where prices of goods fluctuate. How feasible is it to ensure that the documentation of all processes is implemented and can be monitored all at once?
Deboye: I’ll be working with the halls of residence because in my hall, it won’t be an issue any more because in a matter of weeks, this law will be implemented. Commonly purchased goods will be my target and even if the price increases, it will be #10 or #20 increments, it is not a huge increment. For example, a bottle of Pepsi shouldn’t exceed #450 because it will be a fixed price. And any increment that will occur will have to be a dialogue process between the office of the House Secretary and these vendors before any implementation. And by this, we will address the student.
UCJ: What are your thoughts on the state of Union’s infrastructure currently not in use; Conference room, offices of the executive, SRC chambers, Kunle Adepeju building itself.
Deboye: I’ll be bringing in proper maintenance to the SU building itself [following] my observations, I’ll ensure maintenance for instance, the SU reading room, the restrooms and other infrastructures. If I assume the position, I’ll look into where the cleaners need to work more on to maintain a healthy environment in the SU building. And for the reading room, it would be properly maintained and maybe renovated because it was recently renovated. I’ll make sure the maintenance of our infrastructures are of high priority.
UCJ: You mentioned transportation as a part of your plans for students welfare, how do you intend to improve the issue of transportation on campus with price control? And do you intend to use the SU buses to improve transportation?
Deboye: One of the initiatives is to help students during rush hours. There’s an initiative on how students can book their rides. I also mentioned expansion of cabs and tricycles for students majorly during the rush hours, there’s been complaints from students that they hardly get rid of their faculties (Vet.Med, Law etc). If there’s a bus stop area, it will make things easier.
UCJ: What’s your plan to ensure this distribution for the rush hour, as you have mentioned, using a ride app. What’s your approach?
Deboye: Currently, I’m still working on that. I have spoken to a fellow student who develops apps because we’re in the dialogue process so I’m sure that I’ll get a solution to this before by assuming the position . In case the app development fails, I intend on creating a telegram channel where selected drivers that will be in the group can be contacted by the students. Students can book their rides from this channel.
UCJ: Critically analyze the accomplishments and failures of the current House Secretary?
Deboye:. I’ll be analyzing him based on his strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Strengths: During the fuel price increment, he did an experiment in filling up cabs with fuel on how to determine transportation fare, which he was able to achieve by getting a fair transportation price list. Also, he formed the Student’s Union Intelligence Team for proper communication during blackouts. He had representatives from halls of residence and faculties.
Weakness: His lack of communication skill which is an essential characteristic of a good leader. Having served as the PRO of my department, it has helped me to communicate to the students at the right time. So, I believe that this weakness will not repeat itself if I assume the position.
Opportunities: He didn’t utilize his home (Zik hall) appropriately. Zik hall is known for energy, vibrancy, he didn’t utilize this in tank washing exercises which led to complaints from students. I’m sure that as a member and supporter of Nnamdi Azikiwe Vibrant Club, it won’t be difficult for me to get the track walking exercise done. I will get it done in the first and second semester.
Threat: Finance is one of the threats of every tenure in terms of accomplishing whatever you’ve planned. If I assume the position of the House Secretary, I’ve approached a lot of brands like Malta Guinness, also to a sponsor Biola who is ready to support any event, he was involved in sponsorship during the Team Rebirth era.
UCJ: What leadership qualities do you have?
Deboye: Accessibility, Commitment, Truthfulness, Transparency and most importantly, time Management
UCJ: Can you give a brief comment on how Team Amelioration have carried out their plans and the methods they adopted on solving the issues facing Uites?
Deboye: Team Amelioration has tried their best in attacking issues on campus and I must commend them for their efforts. Though they faced challenges which are inevitable in every tenure, they tried their best.
UCJ: In terms of welfare, one lapses of Team Amelioration was the bursary for school fees which began 4 days to the deadline and not up to #300,000 was raised and eventually about #800,000 was given out. What are your plans for bursary which is a key part of welfare?
Deboye: On the bursary aspect which is my mission number 3 (strengthening students support system). Expansion and continuation of bursary scheme; I’ll expand it by reaching out to sponsors, popular philanthropists (Biola) and Alumni.
UCJ: Stakeholders meeting and congresses are some of the tools for deciding the next courses of action in our student union. Which one do you think is most preferable?
Deboye: I believe both are preferable. I believe Congress is more efficient because that way we get ideas from the students rather than the stakeholders.
UCJ: Thank you Mr Adeboye. It’s been wonderful having you here.
Deboye: Thank you.
- This interview is part of a special series on the dynamics of the 2025 Students’ Union Election by the Union of Campus Journalists under its Election Watch Room Initiative.
