By: Olorunfemi Praise
At the sitting of the Students’ Representatives Council (SRC) on Saturday, February 12, 2022, the executive council of the Students’ Union presented a budget of N3.5 million for the Freshers’ Week with activities proposed to span seven days.
According to the Assistant General Secretary, who presented the budget on behalf of the council, explained that each day has a programmme(s), while proposing that all programmes arranged for the week would gulp a total of N3,545,843.00. However, some members of the SRC argued that the proposed amount was outrageous. They proposed that some programmes be merged or scrapped, in order to cut costs.
The 9th Assembly debated the possibility of moving the event till March so as to give room for proper sourcing of funds by the Finance Committee. It was however notified that dates had already been fixed with sponsors and by March, the school would have been in the 7th week which will negate the purpose of the freshers welcome week event.
Upon further deliberations, some days programmes in the proposed week were scrapped, on the premise that such programmes will still take place in departments, faculties, and halls. They are; Day 1 initially slated for rally and gyration for Day 6 of. Also, part of the programmes will be fully sponsored by respective sponsors.
Although, the date for the freshers’ welcome week event was not approved, the total sum of N1, 674, 435.00 was approved for the week as against the initial N3, 545, 843.00.
Finally, attention was brought to the case of one beauty product sponsor – LUSH, who collected items (wigs and t-shirts) back from contestants at last year’s pageantry event. The SRC considered the act embarrassing and warned the executive council against such treatment from any sponsor this year.
The House suggested that there should be written agreements between the students’ union and all brands, as a way of preventing similar occurrence.
