Unilorin SU President inaugural speech

PROTOCOL:

The vice chancellor,
DVC, Academics
DVC, Management
DVC, Research, Technology & Innovation
The Dean, students’ Affairs
Deans of faculties,

And my fellow unilorites

                 "TOGETHER, WE CAN”

Doxology and genuflections of supreme encomiums are due for showering upon none except the most High God who has shown us guidance, tolerance and exuberance of mercies despite our shortcomings in the electioneering days. He was with us through the thrilling moments, prior and even beyond to this moment I am standing here before you. We are indeed grateful for these privileges and bounties without boundaries. I say ALHAMDULILAHI.

Accordingly, Ideas are birthed by great men, nurtured by worthy men and made achievable by enviable men. For providing an amiable ambiance for us to associate, we owe honor to the management of our great citadel of learning under the leadership of Professor Abdul Ganiyu ambali [OON]. The elected student union officials wish you continual progress even as you prepare to leave the office.

The conducive and serene atmosphere that the university currently enjoy is absent in most universities in Nigeria. This is traceable to the purposeful leadership of the erstwhile administration which leads to good behavior from the students. I hereby affirm my resolve to continue this enviable trend and work together with the new leadership of the university that will be headed by Professor Sulyman Age AbdulKareem, in converting all negative predicaments to win-win situations that will benefit us all. The Union will do this through effective public engagement, collaborations, dialogue and strategic partnerships that can drive the much needed development.

It is pertinent to mention the peaceful elections conducted under the supervision of the Directorate of Students’ Affairs, Professor E.A Talabi. Your commitment and transparency is a reflection of the university’s culture of tranquility and fairness, and we thank you for this. On this note, I urge successive administrations to emulate this attitude.

Before diving to the core of my statement, my humble appreciation goes to Dr. AbdulRaheem Yusuf, Dr. Jimoh, and Dr. Alex Akanmu amidst other awesome personalities too numerous to mention. I also thank the students of the University of Ilorin for their choice. We will do our best and I will personally do my best not to disappoint you.

The election has come and gone, and now is the time to deliver on our campaign promises of a progressive student-centric government to sterilize the scope of our activism within and around the four walls of our university. On this note, Today, I stand to declare an administration of the students, by the students and for the students.

However, if we are going to make this possible, we need you. We need the efforts and support of everybody in this institution -- Students, Teaching staff, Non-teaching staff and Traders alike. We are all familiar with the age old saying, UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL. It is only by working together; I repeat, together we would be able to effectively affect our immediate environment which is the University of Ilorin positively. This administration is hereby christened TOGETHER WE CAN.

We have to understand, that we are all in this together, that nobody is present here by accident, and that we are all here for a reason, so we should begin to look around and ask ourselves that one question that drives progress, the one question that fosters development, the question that kills selfishness and gives us a reason to come together to find solutions – the simple and constructive question – HOW CAN I HELP?

To effectively bring the craved synergy aboard, we shall engage all necessary stakeholders – both management and the entire Student populace, to ensure sustainable development in all ramifications. I know it won’t be easy to manifest the envisaged development, but we would, through cooperation and collaboration. We need to change our orientation of malice and begin to act concerned, truly concerned for each other. It is only then we would be able to discern and communicate innovative solutions to issues affecting us.

Evidently enough, there are a host of problems visible in school. There is the bandwidth syndrome which displeases some while others laud it. The way the Wi-Fi forces students to hang around aberrant places like the front of lecturers’ offices is of major concern. I am convinced the Wi-Fi service can be greatly improved, if not, made optional.

We want to tackle the headstrong problem of transportation that has long dealt with this school through the introduction of public private partnerships. The issues of rash conditions of hostels, and the state of the convenience rooms concern us all through the way we use them. I promise we would be democratic, diplomatic and civil in the pursuit to satisfy the wants of the teeming thousands who have reposed their confidence in us.

Regardless, while the union kick starts such programs and policies that will aid academic flow without any hindrance to the welfare of the better by far students, let us look beyond ourselves and join hands in a likewise manner to find ways, genuine and novel to make our school better.

I hereby use this chance to inform everybody here today that our administration is coming in at a very sensitive time when the university management is witnessing transition. This should serve as a golden opportunity to us all. A chance to be part of something greater than ourselves, a chance to make our mark, a chance to behave in a way that will make us proud to say “I did this when I was in University of Ilorin”, a chance to contribute to progress. No good act is little. This is the 31st administration in the history of the university and I urge us to do our best to make the past generation proud and unborn generation grateful. Again I say, it won’t be easy but all obstacles are surmountable and a better by far university is continually achievable. With your support, cooperation, collaboration and most importantly, your efforts, I am strongly confident and sincerely believe that TOGETHER, WE CAN.

Long live our Student Union!!

Long live the University of Ilorin!!

Long live the State of Harmony!!

Long live the federal republic of Nigeria.

SIGNED:

ADEBISI RIDWAN A.
REEDOF
STUDENT UNION PRESIDENT

UCJ, UNILORIN.