"NAPS is one that upholds the ‘free and fair’ code," says NAPSIEC Chair

 

Josie

Omojafo Temidayo, the Current Chairperson of NAPSIEC (National Association of Philosophy Students Independent Electoral Committee), President of CAPS (Christian Association of Philosophy Students), and Founder of The Global Hair brand has shared her insights with the news correspondence of NAPS press in an interview.

Press: Good day, can we meet you?

Temidayo: Good day, I’m Omojafo Temidayo. Class rep, 300-level, The Current Chairperson of NAPSIEC (National Association of Philosophy Students Independent Electoral Committee), The President of CAPS (Christian Association of Philosophy Students), and The Founder of The Global Hair brand, a certified hairstyling brand.

Press: Wow, this really a lot that means a lot of responsibilities. How do you cope?

Temidayo: You’re right, it’s a lot of responsibilities. My Apostle once said, “The more your responsibility increases, the more your effectiveness increases”. This has been my experience, I’ve learned to multitask and still bring my A-Game because, in life, there’s always so much to be done.

Press: As the Chairperson of NAPSIEC, what do you have to say about the electoral process in NAPS, is it an exemplary one, or is it like the way election is being typically conducted in Nigeria? Do the voters vote based on merit or is it by who has more influence?

Temidayo: Thank you for this question. The Election process in NAPS is one that upholds the “free and fair” code and, hence, is exemplary. Concerning the voters, I would say that our environment has a way of shaping our mindset and how we do things. In this case, we have Philosophy as a Factor and Nigeria as another factor. So, some voters vote by merit while others vote by who has more influence, respectively according to what I said in the previous line.

Press: If you had your way, is there anything you would like to change about the NAPS electoral process?

Temidayo: Not exactly, maybe the process of having to go through the LRC for approval of certain things which can slow down the planning sometimes.

Press: You also said that you are the President of CAPS, how is the turnout of members for the fellowship?

Temidayo: In the past, it was really low but recently the turnout has been quite encouraging. The new set of philosophy students have been showing more interest than the staylites and I think one of the reasons for that is that we made them know on time that CAPS exists.

Press: Will you say that "Philosophy" has affected the belief of the staylites and you have more freshers not just because they are aware of the association but also because they haven't met "Philosophy" yet?

Temidayo: That’s a possibility but I cannot say that for a fact. I believe that factoring it into their orientation of being here in UI as a philosophy student from the beginning would have helped their interest in the fellowship. We have some of these staylites who still go to church. If philosophy was the problem, my opinion is that it should have an effect on that as well.

Press: How do you manage these positions and your business?

Temidayo: It’s quite tasking but I’ve dedicated Sunday afternoons for my hair appointments so it doesn’t affect my studies.

Press: That's a smart move. So, does this mean that you have learned how to prioritize your responsibilities?

Temidayo: Yes, I have.

Press: What's your order of priority?

Temidayo: The main reason I’m in UI is to school. So my studies come first. Then other activities related to UI, like my leadership positions. Then my business.

Press: So what do you have to say to students who feel they can't juggle academics with other positions? Tips on how you do yours

Temidayo: Oh, the most important thing is setting your priorities right and allocating time to them. We have 24 hours in a day, so you can maximize it.

One of the things that has helped me is that if I remember something I’m supposed to do, I do it immediately or I jot it down. Create a to-do list each day, it makes life easier and you’ll see that little by little you can reach your target both academically and in other areas.

Press: This is really helpful

Press: Thank you very much for your time

Temidayo: The pleasure is mine. Thank you.