Let your passion be your propelling force and never settle for the least
These are his words, want to know who? Tread on our heels and we assure you’d get to know a lot of plans for the semester and other interesting bits as well! Let’s do this!
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Let’s begin with getting to know who you are, please tell us!
Local PUSAG President: Well, I’m Charles Ololade Elegbede, a level 400 student of the Information Technology department. I come from the Southwestern part of Nigeria; Oyo state to be precise. I am the second born of a family of four(4), three(3) girls and a boy. I am from a polygamous family and I have step-siblings.
I attended Julian Nursery and Primary School before moving on to Federal Government College Ogbomoso and School of Science Oyo where I bagged my school leaving certificate in 2011. I started my tertiary education at The Polytechnic Ibadan where I bagged my Ordinary National Diploma(OND) in Computer Engineering, 2014.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Why the choice to school in Ghana though?
Local PUSAG President: Well, as a Nigerian and a student, it’s not every time you get what you want while processing admission into the Universities or Polytechnics. I wrote WAEC in 2011 and I passed all my subjects. I wrote JAMB (Joint Admission and Matriculation Board) exams four(4) times but still, I wasn’t given admission to the course of study that I desired (Civil Engineering).
It was later that I decided to accept the offer for Computer Engineering at The Polytechnic Ibadan. It was after my OND that my parents decided that I come to Ghana to further my education and because I already have some knowledge of computing, I chose Information Technology.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Has it always been Civil Engineering you wanted to pursue?
Local PUSAG President: Yeah sure, I’ve always wanted to study Civil Engineering.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: What drove that desire to aspire for PUSAG President?
Local PUSAG President: Hm-mm. I will be pretty exact on this one. My inherent passion to serve has always been my driven force even in the students’ leadership sphere. For me it all started like a dream, I served as Financial Secretary of NACOMES (National Association of Computer Engineering Students) and NAPES (National Association of Polytechnic EngineeringStudents) back in my polytechnic days.
It was my experience at these leadership positions that served as a driving force for the PUSAG Presidential Ambition. I want to restructure and rebrand the image of the PUSAG secretariat and Methodist University College Ghana as a whole.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: What is the mission and vision of the PUSAG?
Local PUSAG President: Vision and mission are to secure for all students the environment for academic, moral, spiritual, social, political formation and development of our person, association and country as a whole.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: How would you infuse this in your line of duties as PUSAG President for MUCG?
Local PUSAG President: Well, by organizing programmes and activities through seminars and workshops, a symposium for students in order to elevate minds and impact in the lives of MUCG students.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: These are as well some of the plans you intend to fulfill?
Local PUSAG President: Yeah sure, God willing
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: What are your responsibilities as PUSAG President?
Local PUSAG President: My responsibilities are simple; to conduct all activities and programmes concerning student welfare assigned to it, to liaise between Methodist University SRC and the National PUSAG Secretariat, and to disseminate vital information concerning students from the National PUSAG Secretariat.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Could you highlight a couple of the activities and programmes you are assigned to conduct?
Local PUSAG President: The office of the Local PUSAG secretariat will for the first time introduce a Local PUSAG Week celebration. I want our students to anticipate this. It will feature programmes and activities like health fitness, movie night, talent hunt, video games, freshers’ night, a seminar on google marketing and many more. I assure you that PUSAG will do more than sports in that week.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Whoop! Sounds exciting already! This is happening this semester?
Local PUSAG President: Yeah this semester!
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: The SRC President mentioned that the PUSAG has plans set up a platform where students will be able to watch their favorite sports in school at a fairly cheaper cost. Could you throw more light on this? Is it realistic? How soon it this happening?
Local PUSAG President: Yeah it’s true, my office will oversee the start of a viewing and gaming center on campus to afford our students the opportunity to watch various sports at a reasonable amount. This I believe will also help to raise little funds for the SRC. And it’s part of our projects for the first semester.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Interesting and where will be the venue for all of this?
Local PUSAG President: SRC Study Garden
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Isn’t it a small venue considering the number of sports enthusiasts?
Local PUSAG President: Yeah it is, but with time we can better it.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Can? Or certainly will?
Local PUSAG President: I will stick with “can”. It’s not like I’m being negative but if the number of students that come to the viewing center doesn’t increase; then we have no choice than to leave it as it is. The more the better.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Alright! What are other plans for the school as Local PUSAG President?
Local PUSAG President: MUCG students should expect everything good from the PUSAG Secretariat. We’re dedicated to serving and pursuing the interest of our students to the latter. The welfare of our students is the top priority because without the students; there’s no US.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: How do you plan to build and maintain a cordial and beneficial relationship between MUCG and other private and even public universities?
Local PUSAG President: Thank you. Building and maintaining a cordial relationship between two academia can be very challenging. But I believe because we all practice common courtesy, it will be beneficial.
As a private university, we are also a member of USAG (University Students Association of Ghana), giving us a platform to create good relationships with public universities.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: In recent times the PUSAG games have received low participation in some of the sporting activities especially from our campus and that has somewhat led to the not so good performance during the event. What do you think is the reason behind that and how would you solve this problem?
Local PUSAG President: Hm-mmm, lack of funds is simply the reason why MUCG is not fully represented. We can’t go broke trying to look rich. The number of students is decreasing each semester on our campus especially the international students, it’s not because of anything but because of funds I think.
And this is also going to affect the school management because they have to operate on a scale of preference. We hope to have more students this coming academic session so that we will have adequate funds to participate in the PUSAG games. A plan is ongoing to help publicize MUCG in and outside Ghana so that more students can enroll. All other private universities are also facing the same challenge I think.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: When the semester is almost due how effective will your plan concerning publicity be?
Local PUSAG President: MUCG enrolls students in September and January, so I believe our plan will work well, if not then the next SRC executives will benefit from it.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: How do you intend to finance all these projects you will embark on with ”lack of funds” in your own words?
Local PUSAG President: Thank you. It’s going to be a big challenge but I believe with sponsorships and partnerships; we can overcome this. We have a plan to produce liquid soap to serve as a source of income for the SRC. We also have a plan to start a book and academic accessories store with customized SRC exercise books, pen, and others.
I made mention of starting a viewing and gaming center the other time, it will not be used for only football matches. There will be one or two game consoles available for lovers of video games at a relatively low amount. These and many more I believe will help our administration and the ones that will come after.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Great! We’ll stay positive and support you all through. You do the rest for us!
Local PUSAG President: Thank you. Sure will!
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: We’d like to know what the National PUSAG secretariat has put together as the plan for the 2018/2019 academic year?
Local PUSAG President: No plan yet, the election of new executives for 2018/2019 academic year is in progress. The election will take place at PUSAG congress scheduled to take place between 19th-23rd of September. It’s only after this that National PUSAG Secretariat can come up with something.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: That’s okay then. Aside from social media, what other means will you employ in the dissemination of vital information concerning students from the National PUSAG Secretariat?
Local PUSAG President: Through the General Assembly meetings, which consist of class representatives, President and Secretaries from each hostel, member of ISAMU, and committee chairs. They will all help to disseminate vital information concerning students from the National PUSAG Secretariat.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Apart from soccer and basketball which are most patronized by students, how would you bring aboard other enthusing games like the field and track events, hockey, and others that equally deserve some attention?
Local PUSAG President: For now we don’t have facilities for hockey lol. We have been participating in track events at PUSAG games but this time around we will focus more on it, I mean it wouldn’t be only at PUSAG games.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: What would be a balk in the accomplishment of your plans?
Local PUSAG President: Hm-mm, I think the only problem would be bad leadership and followership. All things being equal, leadership is not a problem anymore because we executives won as a team (Dream Team); meaning we have the same ideas in common.
And I believe that if leadership is important to performance, followership must have something to do with it too. On this note, I want all of us MUCG students to see ourselves as one because when we are together then we can do positive exploits.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: What have you identified as exigent needs of students as Local PUSAG President and how would you solve them real quick?
Local PUSAG President: I think our students need more recreational activities on campus aside from the regular Akwaaba and SRC week. Many also complained about the lack of leadership workshops on our campus. This is why my office is coming up with Local PUSAG week which I believe will anchor all these.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: On a scale of 0-5 how sociable are you?
Local PUSAG President: Lol I will say 3
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Means you’re in between right?
Local PUSAG President: Yeah I am lol
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: What are your interests?
Local PUSAG President: Sports I think
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: You think? Well, what kind of sports though?
Local PUSAG President: Football
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: You follow the EPL then?
Local PUSAG President: Yeah sure, Manchester United to be precise
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Lol your team’s not chalking up the wins they need to be chalking up this season. Do you think Mourinho has to go?
Local PUSAG President: No, please. In my own opinion, he’s a great coach that can manage a great club like Red Devils. He has done it before and he will do it again
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Lol we hope so! You think Aguero will get the best player this season?
Local PUSAG President: I can’t say, probably Lukaku. Lol
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Interesting pick. Who inspires you in life and why?
Local PUSAG President: Haile Selassie inspires me every day of my life. He was a great leader in his days, his political thought, and experience in promoting multilateralism and collective security have proved seminal and enduring. And because I have the passion for changes, no other person can inspire me like the Elect of God(one of his titles).
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Let’s ask you this. Are you in a relationship?
Local PUSAG President: Lmao, this is a tricky one, I will answer because I’m God fearing. Yes, I’m in a relationship.
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Okay Godfearing man lol. What are your final words, sir?
Local PUSAG President: I will say this; let your passion be your propelling force and never settle for the least. I want to implore MUCG students to be determined in whatever positive things they do, they should be focused and determined because tough times don’t last, but tough people do, and when you are been focused, definitely you will get there. I am here to serve MUCG for the better and the progress of MUCG. I remain my humble self, Charles
Kuulpeeps Methodist University: Aww… what a great way to wrap up. We’d like to thank you for your time Charles. It’s been an insightful one. We pray all your plans and good intentions for the school will surely be accomplished. All the best in all your endeavors!!
Local PUSAG President: Thanks
I am here to serve MUCG for the better and the progress of MUCG. I remain my humble self, Charles.
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