Benjamin Dada says his main reason for running is “to give the black and minority groups a chance to run and encourage others to apply also.” On top of that, he was clear that the role would have the personal benefits of allowing him to interact with others and develop: “I want to interact with people and my environment. Thirdly, I am trying to practice my role and my student development.”
Dada’s experience includes being president of a “student-led organisation” when he was an undergraduate in Nigeria: “we taught students study skills and people left inspired,” he told SCAN, “I directed the affairs of the organisation.”
His experience extends to being a course rep, where he was “involved in fighting for students.” He says this variety of experience will allow him to bring “communication to the role and assimilating what students want.”
Dada believes that it is his open-mindedness that is his unique selling point: “Many people are opinionated on a lot of things, but I am willing to have different experiences.”
“This is my first year in Lancaster,” he says, “so I will not know everything. But being open and approachable attitude so people can communicate is a big thing I am bringing to the table.”
How will he ensure he communicates with undergraduate and postgraduate students? Dada explains, “I am a postgraduate student and therefore have connections with postgrads. I will leverage the connections I have.”
“For undergrads, I will talk to more them and meet with undergraduate course reps to seek their opinion. I will also speak to the Postgrad manager. I think it’s more about communicating in small groups and then bringing everyone together.”
Telling SCAN, “I take extracurricular seriously, university is not just about the knowledge experience,” Dada explained his big plans for extracurricular degrees. His manifesto gives the vague promise of “incorporation” of extra-curricular into degrees. Dada expanded on this idea to SCAN, outlining that extra-curricular activities “would be compulsory,” and scheduled for a specific time.
Dada promises to lobby the University to Freeze the Fees: “my lobby would show that we can cut down on things and find a safe cost to exercise profits and run smoothly. It is not just Freeze the Fees only. We can reduce expenditure and preserve money that way.” However, he expressed that “the NSS Boycott can be dangerous. It will be better looking at alternatives than boycotting the NSS.”
On the subject of the TEF, Dada said that “the TEF rankings are a good way to motivate the university to be the best it can be. But I feel that we need to consider the students. The increase in fees can dislodge those that would want to come to university.”
Trivia: Dada named three of the four faculties – omitting the Faculty of Health and Medicine.
