The National Association of Philosophy Students (NAPS) convened its first congress of the second semester on April 5, 2023, at the departmental library. At 12:15 PM, the Congress convened quickly. The congress, the highest decision-making body in the philosophy department, was held to tell NAPsites of a number of future events and to get their feedback on revisions and improvements.
The congress covered topics including the approaching picnic, the symposium, the inter-level debate competition, the panel and symposium, the departmental journal, and of course, the department's budget. While speaking to congressmen about the Inter-Level competition that will be held this semester, Imeobong Umoh (Peggie), the current departmental president, made a reference to his campaign promise by announcing that the prize money had been increased to Forty Thousand Naira (#40,0000), which the winning team could use however they saw fit.She noted that the competition days would be free of lectures and that all NAPsites were urged to attend.
Additionally, there were discussions at the meeting on the upcoming symposium, which will take place on April 12 and 19 and may include guests from other universities like UNILAG (The University of Lagos), OAU (Obafemi Awolowo University), and Dominican University. A panel discussion on the theme of "Interrogating The Rationality Question, AI and the Human Person" will be held during the symposium, which is likely to include lecturers from the department as well as outsiders.
The President outlined the procedures to be followed, indicating that the P.O.I.s could only be two per person and should not last longer than 10 seconds. The president emphasized once more that philosophy students should be present on the lecture-free days rather than using them as an opportunity to relax. The department Journal and Magazine, whose realization was stated to be subject to the press, was the next effect brought to the constituents' attention. Upon fruition, it is supposed to be a physically published journal with selected entries of critical philosophical thoughts and free-thinking ideas. The Congress also debated issues concerning the upcoming department picnic, with a ticket price of N1000 (one thousand naira). The picnic is to be held on the 29th of April, and the venue is still being determined, as are, most importantly, the financial issues of the department as well as opening an official bank account for the UI branch of NAPS. The financial secretary and social director explained to Congress that the department has several events lined up but not enough money to fund those events, and the main cause of that is that several constituents have yet to pay the mandatory NAPS dues.
FULL DETAILS OF THE DISCUSSION ON THE ISSUES CONCERNING THE OPENING OF AN OFFICIAL BANK ACCOUNT FOR THE ASSOCIATION.
The Financial Secretary stated that the association's inability to open a formal bank account was primarily due to the requirement that it be registered under Student Affairs in order to receive the letter of recognition, which must be presented to any financial organization, during a recent NAPS Congress speech on the topic. Nevertheless, because of debt, the National Association of Philosophy Students was not officially included under Student Affairs.
According to the explanation, the debt arose from four years' worth of unpaid registration fees, which at 10,000 naira (#10,000) per year, amounted to 40,000 naira (#40,000) that needed to be paid by the current administration.
One of the congress' constituencies requested that the money be raised independently from the NAPS finances after the Financial Secretary stated that there was no money on hand to cover this debt. The proposition was then submitted to a vote, and the congress resolved that each constituency with each level should endeavor to raise #10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira) each to pay off the debt owed by philosophy.
In order to alleviate some of the department's financial problems, the Executive team made sure to emphasize that this payment was not required but was instead a suggestion made and accepted by Congress.
Obialor Anita
Okocha Josephine
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