The Aspirants’ debate took place on August 5, 2024, starting around 2:50 pm. The program's host, Lkite Anjolaoluwa, began with a brief prayer and welcomed everyone to the event. She then introduced the panel of judges: Abubakar Oluwaseun Gift, Editor-In-Chief of Legal Kekenke, and Peter Emmanuel, Vice President of NUCJ. The VP outlined the debate rules for both the aspirants and the audience. Notably, out of 18 executive aspirants, only 5 were present, and 4 participated in the debate, marking an all-time low in the history of the Aspirants’ debate in LSS.
The participants included:
Ayuba Adeyinka Akinola
Oguntibeju Adewale
Ogunesan Hannah Olaitan
Arigbabuwo Ayomide Islamiyat
Akinrinola Akinbola Tolulope, who filled out the form but did not attend
While some aspirants were occupied with tests or participated in the Legal Temple mock competitions, it is worth noting that a few exhibited a lack of interest in the debate, which is crucial for evaluating the aspirants.
During the debate, each aspirant addressed their assigned topic.
The debate began with Ogunesan Hannah Olaitan, the aspirant for Financial Secretary. She presented compelling points and strategies for optimizing budgets. When a judge asked if it was possible to reduce the cost of dues without compromising project quality, she explained that lowering the LSS dues from 1500 would significantly impact project quality due to the feasibility of the current price.
Next was Arigbabuwo Ayomide Islamiyat, the aspirant for Welfare Director, who spoke on "Addressing Mental Health Challenges Faced by Students in the Department." She identified academic stress as a major contributor to mental health issues among students and confirmed her membership in a mental health organization. She left the podium without questions from the audience.
The debate continued with the two presidential aspirants discussing "Balancing Academics and Student Leadership: Strategies for Effectively Representing the Department." Oguntibeju Adewale highlighted his 4.9 CGPA while holding executive positions and his intention to run for president since his second year. He emphasized his experience with multitasking and understanding student needs. Ayuba Adeyinka Akinola addressed the difficulties of balancing academic and leadership roles and expressed his readiness to bridge this gap while maintaining his academic performance. He also mentioned his experience working with leaders and his readiness to assist students.
When questioned by an audience member about improving relations between LSS and the faculty, both candidates outlined their approaches to benefit students.
A panelist inquired about reducing friction between executive members and organizations, referring to a recent incident between an executive and the president. Both candidates suggested that all executives should understand and respect their constitutional rights, recognize the overall leader, and handle conflicts through constructive methods rather than rash interactions.
Finally, the panelists asked if they would be able to work together if the other won. Both candidates affirmed their willingness while confidently asserting their own victory.
The event concluded with the electoral committee’s pro informing the aspirants about the manifesto program scheduled for the following day.
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LK…Making a statement.
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