By: Ogunleye Kolapo Olayemi
When Adeoti Mubarak Adebare emerged as President of the National Association of Political Science Students, University of Ibadan chapter, his manifesto, titled The Synergy Agenda, set out promises around academic development, institutional cooperation, and student development.
Before assuming office, Adebare’s leadership readiness had been questioned. An emotional outburst during the press night as an aspirant raised concerns about his temperament and composure. For many, the big question was simple, how would this translate into leadership? With his tenure now concluded, this review examines what was promised, what was delivered, and what fell short.
Academic Promises
Academics formed the backbone of Adebare’s manifesto. He promised scholarship focused programmes, writing seminars, internship initiatives, and a mentorship series.
In practice, the administration delivered several academic oriented activities. A Meet-a-Mentor series was held online on 12 May 2025, with speakers such as Olayinka Akande and Martin Ihembe, who spoke on fully funded scholarships, opportunities within political science, and how to write effective CVs and cover letters. The event was well documented and widely shared.The administration also organised a Project Writing Workshop and a Seminar Summit, programmes many students described as helpful.
A Freshers Essay Writing Competition was introduced to encourage academic writing among new students.On scholarships, the administration shared resources through a Google Drive folder.
Internship opportunities, however, did not move beyond the proposal stage. While ideas were presented to department stakeholders, there were no confirmed placements during the administration. This places the internship promise in the category of partially fulfilled.
Leadership Development and Career Fair
The manifesto also promised leadership and personality development programmes, as well as the introduction of a career fair. In practice, leadership development and Career fair were addressed mainly through academic seminars and mentorship sessions such as the Meet-a-Mentor series. While these platforms touched on personal growth and career direction, there was no standalone leadership or personality development programme.
NAPSS Membership Stand and Institutional Stability
One of the most important achievements of the administration was the renewal of NAPSS UI’s registration with the Students Affairs Division after six years of abandonment.According to Adebare, failure to renew the registration would have resulted in the association being blacklisted. This action restored NAPSS UI’s official standing and ensured its continued existence within the university system.The administration also strengthened external relations by hosting a regional NAPSS South-West convention, further reinforcing its focus on institutional cooperation.
Funding, Sponsorship, and Accountability
Adebare stated that most activities during his tenure were funded through sponsorships due to limited association funds. Through this approach, the administration purchased a Public Address System for the department and executed several programmes.
Financial reports were presented to the legislative arm of the association during valedictory sittings. However, as at the time of this review, a publicly released audit of the administration had not been published.
Social Activities and Student Engagement
On the social side, the administration recorded mixed results. One notable social event was STEEZE ON SHORT 2.0. It was a collaborative party organised with students from the Engineering and Psychology departments. The event provided a space for relaxation and cross-departmental interaction.
However, the annual NAPSS Dinner, traditionally one of the association’s biggest social events, did not hold.The President attributed this to the timing of the session, which ended around the December festive period, as well as low ticket sales. Although awards were later presented to selected nominees, the absence of the dinner was a disappointment for many students, as it usually offers an opportunity to unwind after a long academic session.
Final Verdict
Overall, Adebare’s administration leaned more toward academics and students development programmes. The administration delivered several academic initiatives, shared useful digital resources, and also restored the association’s institutional standing.
However, the administration was not without its shortcomings. The NAPSS Dinner, an event many students look forward to at the end of every session as a time to unwind and celebrate outstanding students, did not hold.
Internship opportunities for political science students also did not move beyond the proposal stage. While the effort to lay a foundation is commendable, the administration did not progress beyond planning to actual implementation.
In the end, if the Adebare-led administration is to be remembered for anything, it will be the academic-focused and students development initiatives that defined its time in office.
