Sulaimon Adeola is the president of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Distant Learning Institute Student Association (DLISA). He speaks with IDRIS AKINPELU (300-Level Business Administration).
PLEASE describe your tenure thus far.
[/size]Peaceful, though tasking. That, I guess, is to be expected when one is trying to carry many people along. My focus, however, has been on welfare and dissemination of information, encouraging students to put in their best in their academics and working to orientate members properly on the DLI programme.
[/size]How far have you pursued the realisation of your promises?
[/size]We have achieved some. We are putting in everything we have to ensure that, before the end of our tenure, we shall achieve the rest. However, we could not succeed in one of our promises which is reduction of school fees. School fee is under the regulation of the council and unlike the full-time programmes, DLI fee is not subsidised. It’s more of a private programme created to give room for those willing to have B.Sc but could not as a result of various factors. The fees are fixed and subject to review by the university council. We hope to have a breakthrough as some of our students are pulling out due to the last increment of fees last session.
[/size]What are the areas of focus of this administration this new session?
[/size]The focus is still on welfare, particularly as it concerns hostels and class rooms. We need to ensure that our students who need accommodation get; also that we have enough classrooms for our lectures, not having to run helter-skelter.
[/size]What are your challenges?
[/size]The major challenge is really what I have said earlier – getting the school fees reduced. I consider it the major one because it is impacting negatively on our students who because they are training themselves and do not earn much where they are working are being forced to withdraw. There are even those who have no jobs; it is worse for this class.
[/size]Is it true that DLI management has influence in who becomes the president?
[/size]The DLI management can only wish we have a good president but student activities and unionism are functions of the Students’ Affair unit. In whatever way, DLI management doesn’t have influence on who becomes the president of DLISA.
TheNation