By; Adebanjo Zainab Adejoke
As part of its electoral coverage, the Politics Desk of POSSPRESS conducted an interview with Sunday Oluwanifesimi Victor, a 200-level Political Science student aspiring for the office of General Secretary. The conversation, anchored by Adebanjo Zainab Adejoke, explored his motivation, experience, leadership philosophy, and vision for the secretariat.
POSSPRESS: Hi, good evening. I’m Adebanjo Zainab Adejoke, Politics Desk of the POSSPRESS. This interview is aimed at discussing your political ambition for the office of the general secretary. Kindly introduce yourself.
Sunday: I’m Sunday Oluwanifesimi Victor, a 200 level student of political science. I’m an aspirant for the position of the General secretary.
POSSPRESS: Let’s proceed with the interview, kindly reply promptly. Firstly, why are you running for the office of the general secretary of the department?
Sunday: It is due to my love for service for my dear association, with my indepth experience in the clerical world right from secondary school, it is been a drive for me to write or document and also be accountable for everything I’m expected to do as the General secretary. Right from secondary school, I have taken different post which have related to the office of the general secretary. I took minutes of the volunteers of the StepUp Summit recently which sparked a light of enlightenment that I can do this for my department too. Moreover, I was the president and the General secretary all together in secondary school with proven works of excellence, there I gave reports of every meeting and agendas to the coordinator. All this experience is a drive for me to serve my department not to boss them as an executives but to share the things I have learnt over time and put into practice for my department.
Sunday: This is why I pioneered the O-SUN AGENDA, tagged the brighter secretariat.
POSSPRESS: With your experience so far, do you think you have what it takes to serve in this capacity?
Sunday: Yeah, I can. Through adaptation and a heart to learn more.
POSSPRESS: Can you distinguish between service and leadership?
Sunday: To me, leadership is the process of leading the followers to a particular goal, while service is the act of serving in a position or under a particular person. Before explaining further on this, I will like to talk about boss and a leader: a leader serves but a boss commands. Leadership is an act of service — you leading the people to a particular goal for their betterment. To me, leadership and service can’t be separated or stand independently else the person will be called a boss not a leader.
POSSPRESS: As an aspirant, what are the roles of the general secretary?
Sunday: Article 9 section 3 of the NAPSS Constitution talk about the roles of the general secretary which are: He or she shall be the head of the secretariat and keep accurate record of all the meetings of the executive council; I shall send, draw up agenda and minute at the instance of the president. I shall receive and send out correspondence on behalf of the association.I shall perform every other duties given by the President or other executive council.I shall ensure the annual registration of NAPSS at the University level.I shall perform any other functions given to me by the president or the executive council.This is a summary of the duties according to the NAPSS constitution.
POSSPRESS: What’s your leadership style and how does it align with these roles?
Sunday: My leadership style is always to learn, unlearn and relearn, no one is high land. Rather than be at the forefront of people seeing me, I wanted something that will keep me within, not noticed while I work diligently and in service for our association. Everything is coming back to service.And how does it align with this role? This role doesn’t seem to be noticed, rather it serve the people, the president and the executive council. Most people usually see the president but not the general secretary.
POSSPRESS: Is the role really to serve the President and the executive council or to work hand in hand with them?
Sunday: It is actually to work hand in hand with them, like a team, but why I said that is because according to Article 9 section 3, some of the things listed in the subsections — like subsection 4 and 6 — emphasizes delegated duties and functions given to me by the president and other executive council.We work as a team, like the President can tell me to send out correspondence or official letters, and also working hand in hand with them in maintaining my roles as the general secretary to foster effectiveness in the administration.
POSSPRESS: Your initial response makes you and the position of General Secretary sound like an errand role, which is inaccurate.The General Secretary is a core member of the Executive Council, and whoever occupies the position is directly responsible to the students of the department. He or she is expected to collaborate with other executive members and contribute meaningfully to the administration.
POSSPRESS: To the next question. What do you think you can do or offer better than the current occupant of the position of the GenSec?
Sunday: I will discuss that in manifesto night, if I say now. What will people anticipate to know?
POSSPRESS: Kindly answer the question.
Sunday: Yeah, thank you for that question. One of the things I intend to do is to be accountable for every documents of the administration. Proper record keeping and a committee that builds the experience of NAPSSites.
POSSPRESS: Finally, in one word, describe your theme.
Sunday: O-SUN AGENDA — the brighter secretariat.
POSSPRESS: Thank you for your time.Sunday: You’re welcome.
