REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE UNION
PRESENTED ON SATURDAY 27TH OF FEBRUARY 2021
BY
COMRADE EGWU BENJAMIN LOTANNA
PRESIDENT:STUDENTS’ UNION GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITY OF BENIN.
Congratulations to Chief Judge of UNIBEN SUG JUDICIAL ARM. #we meet again
Good afternoon,
Our Amiable Speaker, RT Honorable Benjamin Oyewmense Enorense.
Dedicated Principal Officers,
Most Distinguished Honorable Parliamentarians,
The Golden Age Executives,
Faculty Governors here present,
Departmental Presidents here present,
Great UNIBEN Students,
Friends and well-wishers,
Members of the Security Department,
Members of the Press,
Invited Guests/ Observers,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Firstly, I crave your indulgence to observe a one minute silence for all departed UNIBEN Students during the Global pandemic/long holiday. Please may we rise.
I specially welcome you all back to campus and to the 1st plenary/sitting for the 2019/20 academic session.
We thank God for journey mercies back to Campus.
Mr. Speaker and the House, let me quickly state that passion for excellent and genuine service has driven us thus far despite the inconveniences we have been experiencing since our inauguration. Regardless of the rough beginning our passion to serve has never dwindled; we are still on course to make excellent and Golden impact.
On the 14th day of February 2020, a phenomenal Students’ Union Government election hit the atmosphere of our Campuses – Ekehuan and Ugbowo. That election gave birth to the current administration tagged; Golden Age Executivesand we were duly inaugurated on the 17th day of February 2020 at the Senate Chambers of the University before the Chief Judge of Edo State, our amiable Vice Chancellor Prof. Mrs. Lillian Imuentiyan Salami and other top Management Staff of the University haven followed all necessary requirement in line with session 34 of the Students’ Union Constitution.
Mr. Speaker and the house, on Thursday 20th of February 2020, the Management of our Great University ordered that academic activities be put on hold and Students should vacate both Campuses. The reason was to renovate our Hostels (Halls of Residence) in preparation for National Sports Festival. We anticipated our return back to Campus on the 12th of April, 2020. It might interest the house to know that Monday 1st February 2021, the school finally resumed after several months of closure. We returned back to school after 347 days following ASUU strike, COVID-19 pandemic, the End SARS protest and other unforeseen circumstances that hindered our return.
Therefore from the date of our inauguration t ill today (17th February. 2020 to 27th February 2021). We have passionately and genuinely served for 376 days (1 year and 11 days). But by virtue of principal and practice we have only spent 30 days in office. These are some of the achievements the GOLDEN AGE EXECUTIVEShave recorded thus far:
Achievements
1. NANS pre-convention; The leadership of the Union represented the University in 2020 NANS pre-Convention held at Enugu state, from 13th -15th March, 2020.
2. Free online Graphics Designs Training, where over 1000 Students were trained on Graphics Designs. It held on 5th - 8th May 2020.
3. Online UNINBEN SUG Praysagainst the Global pandemic (COVID-19) and untimely death of Students and members of Staff of the University, held on 8th May 2020.
4. Stay Back Home Lecture series on writing competition, aimed at improving the writing skills of our esteemed students, held on 28th April, 2020. Cash prizes were given to the first, second and third positions.
5. Online Skills and Thrills(Instagram Challenge Series) aimed at encouraging talented Students, held on 25th May 2020. Cash prizes were given to first, second and third positions.
6. Stay backhome UNIBEN Anthem Challenge tagged: Robed in Purple and Gold” aimed at encouraging Students to know the University’s Anthem. Cash prizes were given to the first, second and third positions.
7. The Leadership of the Union successfully led a peaceful demonstration for late Miss Vera Omozuwa Uwaila, aimed at publicly condemning the ugly circumstances that led to her untimely death.
8. Several visitations to Edo State Police Command in a bid to get justice for our dear departed Student (late Miss Vera O Uwaila).
9. The Union facilitated the free bail of more than 40Studentsthat were unjustly arrested by the Police Force. The former and current Divisional Police Officers of Ugbowo Police Division as well as the former and current Commissioners of Police Edo State can attest to this fact.
10. The Leadership of the Union distributedpalliativeto our Students stuck around the School environs, whereby over 500 Students in Ekosodin, BDPA, Osasogie and Ekehuan Campus benefited respectively.
11. ONLINE / VIRTUAL MATRICULATION: At a time during the long holiday, the need to conduct Online Matriculation arose. The management of our Great University of Benin ably led by Prof. Lillian I. Salami and her team thought it wise to matriculate our newly admitted 100 level and direct entry students’. Taking one student to represent each faculty- across the various faculties. The leadership of the union was duly represented
12. The Leadership of the Union led delegates (students) to a Program tagged: “sexual violence and other gender based violence in tertiary institutions”
13. The Leadership of the Union was fully represented in the symposium organized by the Leadership of ASUU, University of Benin Chapter, in honor of Prof. Festus Iyayi of blessed memory, held on Thursday 21st November, 2020.
14. The Leadership of the Union led a delegation of 25 Students to attend the burial ceremony of the late. Miss Vera O Uwaila, aimed at giving our departed Student the last respect, held on Friday 13th November, 2020.
15. The Leadership of the Union was represented in the UNIBEN 50th Anniversary Inter Faith Thanksgiving Service on 23rd November, 2020.
16. The Leadership of the Union has been active in the various University committees that have SUG representatives as Members e.g Committee on Shuttle And Toll Gate, Committee On Business Centers and Rentals etc.
17. The Leadership of the Union represented the University at the 2020NANS convention, held at Abuja from Sunday 29th December - 4th December, 2020.
18. FREE DISTRIBUTION OF FACE MASKS: The Union through the office of the Attorney General Distributed 2000 Free Masks to University of Benin Students in the first week of resumption, as part of the measures to contain the spread of the novel Virus, this activity was carried out in both Campuses of the Institution.
19. UNIBEN DOCUMENT: The Union through the Office of Assistant Secretary General and Public Relations Officer has commenced the publication of "THE UNIBEN DOCUMENT" a history book of the University of Benin from 1970 till date.
20. FREE TRANSPORTATION: The Union in collaboration with Comr. Anyanso Ibe aka Sir Wizzy, CEO ANYIBE MULTICHOICE GLOBAL LIMITED is currently organizing free Transportation services which run three axis (Ring Road, New Benin and Ekehuan Campus respectively).
21. FREE MEAL: The Union in collaboration with Mr. Efosa Emmanuel aka LEGEMAH has organized a free meal Initiative for 100 students drawn from the various faculties in the university.
22. 5 ASIDE FOOTBALL FIELD: The Union, through the Office of the Assistant Secretary General in conjunction with the Director of Sports has commenced the first Project in Ekehuan Campus a 5Aside Football field.
23. 5ASIDE FOOTBALL COMPETITION: The Union through the Office of the Director of Sports is currently organizing a 5Aside Football Competition between the various Faculties of the University, though there was a slight issue that broke out which led to the Competition been suspended by the Vice Chancellor following the match between Faculty of Engineering and Social Sciences, furthermore, following the quick intervention of the Union, Dean of students and the University Director of Sports, the suspension was lifted by the Vice Chancellor and the competition is set to continue today.
24. UNIBEN SUG TV: The Union through the Office of Public Relations Officer has launched the SUG TV aimed at reporting all news within and outside the campus to our esteemed Students. This is the first of its’ kind in the history of the Union.
25. FUND RAISING FOR OUR STUDENTS: One of our Student Miss Abigael Ubiedi Omoviro , a 400level Accounting Student who was diagnosed with leukemia cancer and needed the sum of 6,000,000 to get Chemotherapy treatment, the Union joined the Faculty of Management of Sciences and Family Members in Public fund raising, surprisingly and ascribing all Glory to God Almighty, we were able to raise the sum of #8,100,000 ( Eight million one hundred thousand) in six days. The Student is currently receiving treatment at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital.
26. UNIBEN TABLE WATER: After several complaints received by the Union on the state of UNIBEN Table water, we thought it wise to swing into action, we visited the water factory located at Ekehuan Campus of the University on Wednesday being 17th February, 2021. Where we laid the complaints of our dear students on the need for improvement. The Chairman of the factory promised the Union to put more effort in ensuring the University Community boast of good and adequate supply of water. It is also worthy to note that the purchase of a bag of water at Ekehuan Campus is now 100 naira directly from the Factory and 120 naira from Shops within the school against the 120 naira and 170 naira respectively. We are currently working to extend this development to Ugbowo Campus.
27. PRICE CONTROL/ REGULATION: I wish to inform the house that all mechanisms and modalities have been put in place to ensure an effective and efficient price control system. This is to ensure a uniform price so that students will not be exploited. Furthermore, effect from 1st March 2021.
Photocopying and printing will be #10 when a student prints, or photocopies above ten 10 pages.
Front and back photocopying will be #15 ONLY, irrespective of total number of pages being less or more than 10.
CHALLENGES
There has been interruptions in our administration as a result of mid semester break, Corona Virus outbreak, ASUU strike. This has actually been difficult for the Union to run smoothly, irrespective of all these restrictions and constraint in our administration, the Union has been standing firmly and strong in our collective efforts in advocating and protecting the welfare of our Students. Secondly the Union has not been able to do much because we do not have a working capital to carry out our activities. The budgets have not been approved by the Parliament, only then can the Union carryout projects and programs we promised the students, working in accordance with our electioneering Campaign promises.
RECOMMENDATIONS/ WAY FORWARD
The Parliament should quickly scrutinize and pass on time, the various budgets of both Executives and Parliamentary Arms in order for the Union members to discharge their duties effectively without further delay, if possible, there should be another Sitting immediately after examination because without the approval of the budget, we cannot function effectively as true Leaders.
APOLOGY
On behalf of the Executive Council, I want to use this avenue to once again apologize to the house for video that went viral during the Edo State Gubernatorial Election.
CONCLUSION
I strongly believe in the awesome potentials of this Honourable house and I humbly plead for a passion -driven, selfless leadership as this will make room for a better student-oriented development which is our utmost goal. I will love to use this opportunity to join two of our distinguished senators who are celebrating their birthday anniversary today.
Senator Dignity Amenaghowon – of Great Faculty of Arts
Senator Ezeona Richard Ubaka - of Great Mother Faculty of Education
On behalf, 77000+1 University of Benin students and the Golden Age Executives, i wish you both long life and prosperity.
Thank you very much Mr. Speaker, distinguished and wonderful honourable members for your tremendous support thus far.
God bless you all,
Long live the 34th Assembly,
Long live Golden Age Executives
Long live Edo State,
Long live Nigeria.
COMR. EGWU BENJAMIN LOTANNA COMR. LUCKY A. ABRAHAM
PRESIDENT SECRETARY GENERAL
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