INTEGRITY: My Thoughts

A bottle of Orijin (PET), a can of Monster Drink, three shots of Bacardi and a thirty-minute drive from Akoka to Egbeda; that’s all it took for me to start this essay. Apart from love letters to my girlfriend, I have not written any essay in over three years, so, I expect to be rusty and this write-up somewhat filled with typos. Lucky me, it is not a formal essay.

As a graduate of English from the prestigious University of Lagos, the onus lies on me to churn out essays devoid of blunders. However, despite the fact that I am aware that I am not a bad writer, this essay is made possible by the ‘German courage’ those shots gave me. 

Enough of the cruise and unnecessary excuse to cover my expected writing rustiness. I am genuinely faced with the pertinent dilemma of what to write about. After moments of biting my fingernails and downing sachets of ‘pure water’, I arrived at writing on the issue of INTEGRITY.

dictionary.cambridge.org defines ‘Integrity as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change’. In a bid to make this essay informal, I will steer off dictionary meanings, thus, expatiate on this subject in my own words and as colloquial as possible. To me, integrity is having a track record of loyalty and trust entrenched in a person; it is possessing the quality of being one of the first persons people think of when they need someone to be part of a pivotal part of their life. One of the best investments one can make is investing in people, this also means one of the best things that can happen to a person is having people invest in him. However, for people to invest in you, the value proposition of integrity has to be evident. 

It is expedient I accept the fact that we do not live in a Utopian world, as such living a life of integrity can be a herculean task. Therefore, it is important that we know integrity is not synonymous with being a saint. It is simply being known to be a conformer to a certain school of thought and known to be a ‘person of your word’. In simpler terms, the basis of integrity is being known to being someone who would ensure he sticks to his words and do the needful. 

This essay is not an attempt to portray me as a man of integrity, rather it is the acceptance of my frailty yet continual yearn to stand out as a man who strives to be loyal, trustworthy, and ever-present to the people that matter in my life.

SHOUTOUT TO AN ANGEL

SHOUTOUT TO AN ANGEL

Like a sun glowing and shining
Like a horse galloping and striding
Your love finds its way into my heart
And lays a claim to my heart with a pact

Love some say is blind
But I say it's divined
For some it takes eons to achieve
But your love from afar I perceive

Our love happened in a twinkle
And I promise you it won't dwindle
Tho challenges may surface
The love we share will suffice

I will always have my hands up raised
When there's call for God to be praised
Because he gave me a chance to feel love
Even though I was camped in sin's glove

My love for you knows no bound
And I would always profess it all year round.

IG: @omoiyaonipoffpoff

MEET #TEAMHOPE

They have a lot of differences, but they share one thing in common which is their love for FASAITES and FASA. I present to you #TeamHope.

• OLANIYI OPEYEMI ENIOLA (HOpe) for President
• BRAIMOH ABEL (Man Able) for Vice President
• EZECHIE CYNTHIA AWELE for General Secretary
• TIJANI AZEEZ (Zeez) for Asst. General Secretary
• OYINLOYE EMMANUEL OPEYEMI for Financial Secretary
• ADEYEYE TOBI (TobyShang) for Social Secretary
• ABDULAZEEZ ADISA (Deezar) for Public Relations Officer (P.R.O.)
• SHOBANDE OLUSEGUN MUSILIU (SOMS) for Sports Secretary

Come all out on Thursday September 29, 2016 to vote for these candidates.

#TeamHope

MY PAINS AND GAINS AS A FASA EXCO

MY PAINS AND GAINS AS A FASA EXCO

My Pain as a FASA Exco is seeing fasaites go through the rigours of studying and still end up with bad results.

My Pain as a FASA Exco is seeing fasaites visiting the toilets and they are locked but instead of asking questions walk away to Faculty of Bus Admin or Law.

My Pain as a FASA Exco is hearing fasaites show distrust in the association.

My Pain as a FASA Exco is seeing Fasaites rush to Sugar Mama, Mavise, Shop 10, Jesus Assembly, Blessed, Calabar Kitchen etc. to get food and run back to the faculty with heavy stomach to catch up with their next class.

My Gain as a FASA Exco is seeing fasaites excel academically.

My Gain as a FASA Exco is seeing the condition of the toilets improve positively.

HOPE FOR FASA

HOPE is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.

Fasaites are hoping for a FASA that can do better than what is obtainable now. Yes, I agree, WE can get better, but that cannot be achieved by just 10 people with the tag - FASA Excos seated in Room BG03, Faculty of Arts Blocks, it can only be achieved with the full support of all Fasaites.

That is why I present myself to you for service. I have seen it all - the joy, pains, challenges, glitz, glamour, fears etc of not just being a student of UNILAG but also of a FASA Exco.

So, I'll reiterate that come 29th September, 2016 between the hours of 9am - 2pm, find your way to the Faculty with a means of student's identification (ID card, course form or exam docket) and invest your vote in OLANIYI OPEYEMI ENIOLA.

MANIFESTO: MY DREAMS FOR FASA

It is no news that OLANIYI OPEYEMI ENIOLA is contesting for the position of the Faculty of Arts Students’ Association’s (FASA) President and just like someone quoted – “There is no HOPE without Vision”, so I have decided to share my VISION with Fasaites. However, need be told that this is not ALL I plan to effect as the President if elected because I believes no one is an island, and I am open to suggestions (in fact, many of these ideas were gotten from Fasaites).

The whole essence of every association is to see to the Welfare of its members, and how then can a student association optimally carries this out if not in the area of ACADEMICS, which is the main reason why we are here in the first place. The numero uno reason why we are Fasaites is to bag a Bachelor of Arts Degree in either Creative Arts (Music, Theatre, Visual), English (Language/Literature), European Languages (French/Russian), History & Strategic Studies, Linguistics, African & Asian Studies (Chinese/Igbo/Yoruba) or Philosophy. So, FASA under my leadership has the following in mind FOR NOW concerning academics:

OPSY: THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB

The name OLANIYI OPEYEMI ENIOLA is a household name in the Faculty of Arts, not just because he's the current Welfare Secretary of FASA, but because he has been doing his job well.

Those who were around during last semester's overnight session will remember that young man who mans the gate every night to ensure Fasaites interest is intact; the young man who goes around every night to make sure everyone enjoys their overnight stay. He also gave his all and still giving his all to ensure that the toilet facilities are in good condition for fasaites to use, and has become a known face in the Works and Service Unit of the University because he doesn't hesitate to go there whenever there's a stop in the flow of water supply in the faculty.

OPEYEMI with FASA Fin. Sec., Tosin

Remember that young man going round classes with can of thinner ensuring the white boards in the faculty are in top shape. He redefined the position of the Welfare Secretary from the usual 'refreshment provider' at function to one who looks out for the all-round welfarism of student, playing the role of a counsellor, tutor, cheerleader (during events where fasaites are participating) and nurse.

Opeyemi taking the Oath of Office as FASA Welfare Secretary