I’d help indigent colleagues raise funds for fees if elected president — LASU female contestant

A 300-level student of the Lagos State University (LASU), Bakare Adeola Zainab has promised to improve the welfare of her colleagues if elected president of her department.

Zainab, 19, is the sole female contestant in the race for the president of the Department of Philosophy.

She is currently the vice president of the department.

In an interview, she spoke about her ambitions and bold plans if she emerges winner of the election.

Asked what she would do differently if elected, Zainab said she would bring innovative ideas towards raising funds for students who cannot afford paying their fees.

She said she has “personally raised school fees for some students this semester”.

According to her, “One of the major challenges I have observed in my department are students being unable to pay their school fees.

“So, I, being the president, will bring innovative ideas towards raising funds for students who cannot afford paying their fees.”

She added that her top priority is to achieve academic excellence and solve the “after schooling” problem that many students still face.

Explaining further, Zainab said the after schooling concept is beyond self-employment skills or going back for master’s and Ph.D.

It’s possible to run your masters and you are yet to discover yourself. We have lots of people that are done schooling, did their masters and PhD, but are yet to discover who they are, which means there’s little they can do in today’s world.

“My top priority is academic excellence, career workshop and innovative grant.

“The last academic symposium at the department was one of the biggest symposiums held in LASU and it was hosted by me as the vice president. I believe that as president, I can do better,” she said.

She pointed out that she was able to source funds for the symposium by writing to and approaching the right people for sponsorship.

“I wrote sponsorship letters to companies, reached out to alumni, special adviser to the governor on student union affairs and commissioner for tertiary education, and they all attended the event.

“All these are all about thinking out of the box. Nothing is impossible,” she stressed.

The teenager described herself as “leadership oriented” having attended leadership programmes that have sharpened her thinking ability.

She said being the only female in the race will not diminish or affect her chances.

“Actually. I am not the most qualified but I think I’m the best that fits in for the position which aligns with my vision 2024.“

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