By Akinbode Badiu Akinola I was nominated by my very good friend, FUTA Students' union president '15/16 and the Chairman FUTA...
By Akinbode Badiu Akinola
I was nominated by my very good friend, FUTA Students' union president '15/16 and the Chairman FUTA Class of (17)Titans: Fowobaje Oluwaseun 'Popejero' to write about my five years experience as a FUTARIAN in commemoration of the TITANS signing_out_week.
For someone with a very low social life and not the most enviable of Academic excellence (LOL) I'll tow the line of my fellow Comrades who have littered the social media this past seventy_two hours to write about their service to humanity years as Student activists.
This will be a very long post and I think I should seek your indulgence to read along.
2012/2013.
I resumed as a FUTARIAN November 5, 2012, to be precise after four previous attempts to gain entry into the University. The first course to be taught was MTS 101 and I was just brimming with smiles at the back of the ETF Hall, I doubt writing much on my note, I was too engrossed with surprise and happiness on being a University student at last after two fruitful years at 'The Polytechnic Ibadan'.
I just finished my tenure as FST President in my former school, the same course I'll later be studying in FUTA, I was using the incentive (notebook) my tenure presented to her members and it wasn't long before people took notice of the fact that I was a Polyte with vast experience as a Unionist.
It wasn't long after that the form for the departmental executive was out for collection, A friend already singled out his intention to vie for the position(Assistant General Secretary) allotted to the 100 level student not until a good friend who was then vying for the Faculty AGS visited me at my Akindeko hostel, Block C, Room 118 residence to push for my candidacy as the AGS of the department, I told him, Ore, Dapo already singled out his intention to vie for the same position and I don't think I'll like to slug it out with him, reason being that I am a bloody Jambite, he's a Pdite well known by all and he's well has a growing popularity already, besides, I want to concentrate more on my academics at this early stage of my studentship, to trim down the long story, I was convinced to vie for the position, I printed my leaflet and distributed amidst classmates and before I knew it, my opponent was already panting up and down, he later told me he'll be stepping down for me, so easy, I can't belief it, I obtained my form, did my screening which was chaired by Egbon Olagunju Kayode Michael, a 500 level student and one time President of the department, the guy contesting for the General Secretary was duly screened out for reasons I couldn't remember, instead of the Chairman to declare the position vacant, The Electoral committee certified that I'm overqualified for the position of the AGS(Smiles) and that was how a 100level student was elected unopposed as the 'General Secretary' of his department, Well, I have not heard of that happening before in an association of about twenty years old, that's a feat common to a newly formed department/association on campus.
It's not surprising that at the end of the tenure 2012/2013, the same 100 level student was duly voted as the El_political of the same association, an award mostly reserved for tough politically inclined student in the department.
The same session witnessed my joining the best organization on Campus: Junior Chamber International Nigeria, FUTA. I was inducted as the best male inductee February 24th, 2013 and was ratified as the Director of Programs for the LO year the subsequent week.
2013/2014.
I concluded my tenure as the NAFSTS_FUTA General secretary early this session, it was very funny when I was asked by the aspirant aspiring to be NAFSTS_FUTA President to be the General secretary again for the second year running, who does that? No brilliant student do repeat a class, I jokingly told him and advised that it'll be better to give chance to another capable hand, I checked my 100 level result not quite long and it falls below my standard and expectation, I'd told myself afterwards that I'll not be participating/serving in any capacity for that session but you can't separate a chick easily from its mother, I contested and won election at the NAFSTS National election at the 37th Annual general meeting/conference held at the NYSC camp, kubwa, Abuja. It was a great experience as that will be the very first time I'll be involved with people of so much mixed races cutting across all the six geopolitical zones in the country. At the home front(FUTA) I was less involved aside being a think_tank of my very good friend 'Ideology's campaign and subsequent victory at the polls of NAAS, FUTA election.
2014/2015.
It's arguably the first or second most challenging session in the school, after a disappointing session academically in the first year, I rose like a morning star in my second year and thus paving way to go back to my vomit(leading, serving and humanitarian engagement) in my third year, I was planning to become the 17th President of my department in what I believe is a personal record making having been the President of the same association barely four years ago in my polytechnic days. Then, there came a force that was almost more powerful than me just weeks before my election, foes, friends and confidantes in my circle suddenly believed the position of the department President is too small for me, after the disqualification of many aspirants for the faculty presidency, it was unanimously agreed that I should slug it out as the President of the faculty and not that of the President that I'd nurtured even before gaining entry into FUTA, I was confused but not convinced, I stood my ground and contested for NAFSTS_FUTA President and won by more than 80% of the total votes casted, weeks later, I contested and won election as the General secretary of Federation of Oyo state students Union, FOSSU_FUTA, not too long afterwards, I was appointed by my very good friend Oguntola Adelowo as the Director of Publicity of JCIN_FUTA, It was the same year I rose through the ranks as the Audit committee General secretary of Nigerian Association of Agricultural students to becoming the Chairman of the same committee.
The same session was as well the year my friends(IDEOLOGY & BAALE) got elected as the Treasurer and General Secretary of the FUTA Students' union, to write about my involvement in their electioneering campaign was tantamount to talk about the influence of ASIWAJU Bola Tinubu in the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as the president of Nigeria ( Well, not in a Godfather_esque, LOL.) they're my best of friends who helped me to win various elections on campus as well, they rub my back and I rub theirs as well when it matters most. If I should tell you those challenges were all easy, 'Na lie' I'll leave my home every morning and returned in the midnight, every blessed day inclusive of weekends. It was very challenging. The word 'very' looking more of an understatement in this context. FOSSU_FUTA found me worthy of a Leadership award this same session.
2015/2016.
A semester was spent in school in my fourth year with the second well spent as an Intern at OK foods Nigeria limited, Lagos(A leading biscuit production company in Nigeria).
Together with the then FUTASU President, Fowobaje Oluwaseun'POPEJERO' We formed the very first central committee of President on Campus under the aegis of Vox Populi vox dei of Mr. President, at our second meeting, I was unanimously elected as the spokesman/Director of Publicity of this great beneficial committee to all and sundry, I swear to God who created me that there's no better FUTASU President than POPE JERO in my five years in FUTA, It was a great privilege walking the work with you my dear brother and friend. I finished my tenure as the President of Food Science and Technology department in the year 2016 and was thrice awarded as the Best departmental President in the faculty, Best President in FUTA at the annual FUTASU week as well as being inducted as a Hall of fame member of NAFSTS, FUTA.
The department produced her first faculty president in twenty three years under my watch as the President, a victory that'll later become a sweet_bitter memory. It was the same year my brother(Ogunbanke Timileyin) became the JCIN_FUTA president, It was a tension soaked victory that I can't but be soaked up in tears after he was duly announced by Jc. Femi Badairo as the President. There's no better feeling than seeing your own blood taking up the mantle of leadership when you're gradually leaving the stage when the ovation is getting loud.
2016/2017.
I'd earlier told myself of my retirement from any related student union activities, associations or organizations in my final year, the final year I'd believed should be to think more about what the future should look like, I was welcomed by JCIN_FUTA at her 30th convention as the JCIN_FUTA Icon of the year, the subsequent week, I was nominated by FUTA part five Muslim students as her chairman, a sensitive position that I duly rejected for a more better individual in my brother and friend: Bro AbdulWasiu Ibiwoye Wasiu, one of the best individuals I've had the privilege of leading me.
The subsequent week, my good friend and brother: Adeleke Olalekan seek my intention on appointing me as JCIN_FUTA Director of training, again I duly and apologetically rejected the appointment citing good reasons/excuse.
Not long after, FOSSU FUTA nominated me for an award which I again duly rejected, there's definitely no point being awarded meritoriously for what you're not worthy of being the recipient, I told the then President of my less involvement in his administration and for that singular reason, my conscience wouldn't forgive me to be awarded of what I'm not worthy of receiving, well, the session is still a month to go and I can't but be grateful to everyone who helped me to become the better person I am today as compared to gaining entry into this great citadel of learning: FUTA.
The Powerful Ideological brothers remain my biggest influence, the FST Class of 17, the NAAS Class of 17, my senior and junior colleagues in the department and faculty, the JCIN_FUTA family, FOSSU_FUTA family, De_group political forum, FUTA family, My mentors as well as my mentees and a whole lot of friends that time will not permit me to mention. I appreciate every one of you, I seek the forgiveness of those I've offended in my humanity service years as a FUTARIAN, Doxology to everybody.
The food will one day be done_______ powerFUL
To keep the trend going, I'll be nominating my good friends: Oluwaseun Olajide-Bosunde Fadugbagbe Racheal Rayz, Amzat Omolade Aishat to let us know about their sojourn in the land of FUTA.
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