David Oluwatodimu Adelani, the President of the Great Ife Students’ Union, in an exclusive interview with ACJOAU, discussed what inspired him to contest for the highest office in the union, his top priorities for students, and his advice for aspiring leaders.
Can we meet you?
My name is David Oluwatodimu Adelani, a student of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University. By privilege, I’m the President of the Great Ife Students’ Union.
What really inspired you to become the president and not go for any other position?
What truly inspired me to run for president was the opportunity to make the biggest impact. I’ve always believed that leadership is about service, and I saw the presidential role as a chance to not only represent the voices of others but to bring people together and drive meaningful change. While every position plays an important role, the president has the responsibility and the platform to set the tone, create a vision, and ensure everyone feels heard and included. I didn’t choose this role for the title. I chose it because I genuinely want to take on the responsibility of leading with purpose, being accountable, and helping others succeed alongside me.
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Was your family in support of your unionism contribution? Was there any day they thought you shouldn’t go for this assignment?
Initially, I had a little bit of confrontation, but along the way, everyone fell in line. Personally, those days are gone. I’m already filling the shoes for the assignment, so all those thoughts are out already.
What are your top three priorities for this administration?
1. The health care system.
2. Better learning conditions.
3. Facilitating a better future for our students.
About the health care system, can you elaborate on your plans regarding it? How do you plan on reforming the health centre and improving health care services for students?
We’re already working around it to get more workers to make sure that the issues of having unprofessional interactions in terms of some of the nurses being rude and all are addressed.
The health committee is going to make sure that at all times, situations are being reported to us and then to the director of the health centre to make sure that proper repercussions follow such acts.
We will also ensure that the health committee has sufficient evidence. You know, when you have a health committee there and the person witnesses whatever event has happened, you have an alibi. The person can even make a video of whatever happened. So, we’ll be working on that.
How do you plan to handle criticism from those you represent?
Well, I’ll be honest with you. Criticism is what guides progress. When you’re faulting somewhere and people are bringing it to your notice, it’s also in your best interest to make sure that the particular thing they’re complaining about is being fixed to ensure you have a better administration. There may be points where you won’t be able to fix some situations. But in every place where the criticism they are giving you is constructive and we understand that it’s something that can be looked into, we’ll try as much as possible to make sure that those effects take place.
How do you plan to engage with the school management to ensure that students’ voices are heard? What strategies will you use to handle conflicts between students and the administration?
In matters regarding insecurity, we have the security that oversees working directly with the union in matters of security and all. The security committee works in a sure manner, and also, whichever arrangement and agitation that students have generally, that’s why we have the voice of the union and face of the union, such that whichever issues the students are facing generally will be linked directly to the management. We also need to understand that there are 3 C’s of Aluta: there’s the consultation, there’s the consolidation before the confrontation. Whatever issues the students have will be given to the management, so that we will get whatever we want. The Aluta will be properly gone through.
How do you plan to measure the success of your tenure?
I’m not particularly sure yet if it’s going to be after the semester or after the session. Whatever event my office will be having, there’s a list of successes that will be stated out clearly so that the administration will be aware of the particular things that the union has done at that point in time. Regularly, there’s going to be a report given to the SRC, as stated in the constitution, to tell them about what the union has been doing.
Others are looking up to you as a leader. What words of advice do you have for them as regards their ambition to be where you are already?
Basically, what I’ll tell them is that they should never stop dreaming, and they should build up their leadership qualities. They should understand that there is the union and their academics. They should always try their best to be able to merge both.
What advice do you have for the students?
The number one thing that they came to do on the OAU campus is their academics, and whatever will put their academics at risk, we’ll make sure that it’s taken care of so each student has a seamless academic session. Instead of this, I’ll reach out to students to help them with their academics properly to make sure they get the best out of what they are doing.