Meet & Talk is a platform for conducting interviews
and engaging personalities that can give insights into certain issues while sharing
their experiences too.
This very first publication focuses on the newly
elected president of the philosophy department and 300-level student,
NAPS PRESS: Good day Mr. President, please introduce
yourself, sir.
Sunkanmi: I'm Olasunkanmi Ayeni, a 300 Level Student
of the philosophy department, and an entrepreneur running a Laundry Service
Brand around the University of Ibadan. I am from Osun State.
NAPS PRESS: Judging from the fact that you campaigned
during your sophomore year, what were the challenges you encountered?
Sunkanmi: Yeah, I definitely faced difficulties while
campaigning and one was the fact that it looked like over time it has been the
norm that Presidents come from 200 level and it looked like this time around
maybe the trend needed to be stopped but fortunately my opponent also came from
my level.
While that was sorted, I also faced the issue of me
being regarded as "competent" or to have gained grounds over my
opponent because I've been class rep for my level for two sessions and not
because I was exactly fit for the job though there were also people on the
other hand who believed that the acceptance, I was getting had nothing to do
with the fact that I was Class Rep.
However, things like this are expected when you want
to go for positions that determine a lot, the key is to keep your eyes on the
goal, clarify your motives and keep forging ahead.
NAPS PRESS: Now that you are the president, what are
your first steps towards ensuring that certain little things are in place, such
as the key to students' toilet in the department is made available; career
prospects of Philosophy and others?
Sunkanmi: Yes, we've started to make the necessary
plans to make things accessible to NAPSITES, like the issue of the toilet you
mentioned and very soon it will be available to NAPSITES for use, especially
during work hours.
There are plans for the Entrepreneurial minds of the
Department, and also for people into Content Creation just to be able to
showcase their various unique minds all for the betterment of themselves and
also NAPS.
NAPS PRESS: What are the challenges you anticipate or
are facing and how do you intend to overcome them?
Sunkanmi: I think one of the challenges I anticipated
was the issue of vacant portfolios and four people having to man a 9-man Post.
So, it's been a lot trying to do alone with four
people what 9 people ought to be doing but I think that should end as soon as
possible.
NAPS PRESS: Has this responsibility been a cog in the
wheel of your academic success?
Sunkanmi: This new Responsibility has not necessarily
been a block in the way of my academic success.
Although these things take your time and you would
have rather used that time for something else it's part of the job, you then
have to go the extra mile to make sure what has to be done is done.
NAPS PRESS: Do you have a watchword for NAPSites or a
word of advice?
Sunkanmi: Being in Philosophy means different things
to everyone, we are not all going to the same place but we can all get some of
the things we would need on our different journeys here, whether inside or
outside of the classrooms so do well to seize every opportunity.
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