Leadership is demanding. It’s a journey of responsibility, continuous growth and expected altruism. In the UIMSA, majority leaders are the primary class representatives, a role which demands catering to a class of more than 150 students, while confronting the challenges of medical school. While heterogeneity of personalities among classmates is inevitable, it is more pronounced in UIMSA due to the large number of students. Thus, majority leaders are constantly caught up in a maze trying to satisfy their classmates’ diverse expectations, albeit sometimes baffling, while maintaining unity, fostering class development, and ensuring the overall well-being of the class, providing service that is often not reciprocated.
To uncover the challenges faced by the majority leaders, the UIMSA Press organised a series of interviews for the majority leaders who served in the last tenure. The first was with the majority leader of the 2K28 class, Olajide Abimboye. In this interview, he uncovered stories yet to be told from his experience, which started about 5 months ago. Take a seat and enjoy.
(Note that ML is used as an abbreviation for Majority Leader many times in this article)
Q: Can you introduce yourself?
Olajide: My name is Olajide Olamide Abimboye, also known as Dr. Movement. I am the majority leader of the current 100-level class, also known as Valentis.
Q: How has it been as a first-time senator?
Olajide: It has been a rollercoaster. I’ve had some good times and some very demanding situations, but God has been the one helping.
Q: What led you to contest for the role of majority leader in your class?
Olajide: Contesting for the position was not a quest for fame. No. Because right from time, I’ve actually been a leader. In school, I was a prefect. In church, I am always into coordination. Even at my former tutorial, I was the Head of Accommodation. I always made sure that things were going well. So, when I saw how everything was going, I just felt the need for a leader. You know, when you have something inside of you and people are not really doing it well the way you think it should, you will not be able to rest. Then, I didn’t just jump−I spoke to people ahead of me, the current SU president [Odedele Covenant]. He gave me a lot of advice. I also spoke to Babzy Jay, the past ML of the 2K24 class and Dr Folusho, the current UIMSA president. They gave me a lot of insight. “You can do it. Try and organise your class. If nobody is doing it, or if you also are not doing it, obviously nobody might do it too.” Then I spoke with the current ML of the 2K27 class, Femi Ogundeyi. I told him about my vision for the class and how I feel like I should just take up the responsibility, and he told me a lot of things to do. I eventually decided to go for it. After the election, I emerged as the majority leader. So, I went not out of selfish interest or anything; it was the passion and the love of the class.
Q: How did the class agree on the name, Valentis?
Olajide: We had many ideas initially, and it almost led to a clash. There are names that we initially picked, and we had to cancel because a particular set was using the same name, or we saw some undesirable elements about it. Eventually, the class senators met to look for other names. We searched for names from other schools, and then my assistant class rep, Teni, suggested four or five names, of which Valentis was not a part. After the suggestions, we put the decision to a poll, and Valentis had the highest vote.
Q: Can you give us a brief meaning of Valentis and how it resonates with the class?
Olajide: Sure. The word, Valentis, stands for strength. It encapsulates the fact that as a class, we are known for our strength, boldness, and solidarity in belief and in the support that we give to one another.
Q: Have there been situations where the class showed these characters?
Olajide: Actually, yes, in many cases, but the major one that I’ll just like to talk about was when we were having issues with MTH 102. I spoke to the whole class after a practical class, telling them that we were going to the College of Medicine to complain, so that at least they would be aware of what we were facing. In a few hours, we were able to gather a lot of money. Then, we took a bus to COMUI that same day. Although we had people who were comfortable with Mathematics, many people still went with us. We fought for ourselves, and it really yielded something.
Q: How has leadership impacted you so far?
Olajide: Actually, it has been a lot. Leadership has really taught me a lot. One thing I actually learnt about life is that you can be a leader and nobody cares. Nobody. I was telling somebody recently that I can only point to two people who are my friends. Even when I reach out to talk, everybody thinks I have it all figured out. Imagine I walk up to a classmate, and I ask them to put me through Chemistry, they are like, “Ahh, ML, you be boss”. So that’s just one thing about leadership. Nobody cares, and everybody sees you as this, all-seeing or all-knowing person. Then number two is that, being the leader of the class, you don’t know who your friend or enemy is. There are many times that I will do some things, and a lot of people will go behind me. And these are the same set of people that when you see them the following day, they will still laugh with you, but behind your back, they are saying a whole lot of things. Another thing is that some people don’t appreciate effort as a leader. I feel like one of the things that this has taught me is not to do things because of praise. There are many times I’ve actually put my life on the line for people in our class. There is one instance: we were supposed to return our matriculation gowns. I wasn’t ML then, but I took it upon myself to gather everything [about 180 gowns] and return them myself. I told people to bring the gowns to my hostel by 9 am but till 3 pm, people had not returned it. At UCH, they were already calling me that I’m the one who seized people’s matriculation gowns. I eventually submitted the ones with me, but some people were calling me by 6 pm. I had issues with the faculty officer then, but people still blamed me for trying to gather everything. Sometimes, people don’t appreciate your sacrifice. Then, another thing is that people need to understand that they have an opinion. Many people don’t talk even when they are facing difficulties. Someone opened up to me recently, and I was moved to tears. Lastly, leadership has taught me that it’s not all about exerting authority−it is important to listen to people too. I make sure to reach out to my other senators before making decisions, even when I know that I can just make the decision myself.
Q: Has there ever been any event that made you consider stepping down as a class senator?
Olajide: I’m not too sure about that. Coming in, I already got a lot of orientation from people like the class leaders of 400 and 500-levels. They already informed me about what will happen. I haven’t thought about it except maybe because of other things I do aside from MBBS. However, an issue in class has never motivated that thought.
Q: So, how have you been balancing the roles of class rep with extracurriculars and your academics?
Olajide: Currently, that’s the hardest phase of my life. Aside from being the ML, I produced a past question this year called Doctor Movement’s Solutions. I have close to 200 [if not more] students. There are many times that I have to leave my hostel at a time that is not convenient for me to attend Senate Meetings. I think the last Senate meeting started around 9 pm and we ended around 5 am. And then, I still have to read. However, one of the things helping me is that I have capable hands as my assistants. They are really doing well. Teniola is very good. Teni is this person who likes capacity building, so she monitors the committees. My other assistant class rep, Nova, is also doing well. She is the one in charge of scholarships and some other things. My own is to just oversee. If not for them, I should have broken down a very long time ago. So, when people ask how I am doing, I say it’s God. God has been helping, too. The number of things I handle is enough to crash my academics, but I’m still doing well. And I believe that God will still continue to help. So yes, my assistants and God have been helping.
Q: What would you consider to be the peak of your sacrifice for the class?
Olajide: I’m going to say it was when I was fighting for the MTH courses. I really went through a lot. I was going from one place to another. I was insulted by some lecturers, but I never complained to my classmates. I was moving from office to office. I went to the dean’s office to complain. I was told to write letters. I visited Doctor Egwe, the HOD of Mathematics department, several times to tell him that we can’t do Maths. I went to my sub-dean. We went to UCH too. I think that was the peak of my sacrifice.
Q: Your class is almost always planning activities. How do you manage having so many initiatives at the same time?
Olajide: Just like I said earlier, I feel like one of the blessings God gave me is my assistants, especially Teni. I won’t steal anyone’s glory. She is doing really amazing, and she usually comes up with these ideas. I just process it and add my thoughts. Also, with the help of brilliant minds in committees, we furnish the ideas. By the time we execute them, they come out hot. It’s not really because it is the majority leader that is doing everything, but I have a lot of helping hands that are doing very well, too.
Q: There was a time something transpired on the Central Group. Your class was doing publicity for something, and there were so many repeats of the same message. Can you share with us in detail what really happened and how you managed the situation?
Olajide: What happened was that we were going to unveil our class logo that day, and it was my assistant class rep [Teni] who was in charge. So, when she sent the design to the class and asked them to share it with the Central Group, a couple of them started spamming the group. Some leaders [Dr. Folusho and Babzy Jay] started reaching out to me. I was not online earlier, so when I did, I saw over 1000 repeats of the same message. I was very disheartened. I quickly went to my class group, told them to stop and then left. A few hours later, I received the same calls again that they hadn’t stopped, and they were even dragging seniors. I felt angry, so I tagged my assistant class rep because she was the one in charge [she didn’t tell them to spam the group to that extent]. So, I told her that I don’t want to hear anything about unveiling for some time. I was going to send it to her and to the class, but somehow, I mistakenly forwarded it to the Central Group. I didn’t even notice because the messages were just too many. After, I cleared my chats on the Central Group. It was when someone replied to it that I noticed that I had actually sent it to the wrong group. Then I quickly called the erstwhile Vice President. I explained that I mistakenly forwarded a message to the Central Group, that she should help me delete it, and she did. I felt I shouldn’t have mentioned her [Teni’s] name. It was disrespectful, so I reached out to her like 2 times to apologise. I also went to the class group to apologise openly too.
Q: Have you gained anything from being the ML?
Olajide: I am tempted to say no, aside from the respect that comes with the position. Also, being the ML really helped me when I released my past questions. The name really helped me secure engagements.
Q: Which of your classmates can you trust with the work of being the ML?
Olajide: If I ever consider dropping down and I am to pick or recommend someone, it will be Ishaq−that’s the current research committee head. He also has the ability to lead people and organise activities. Apart from him, I haven’t seen any other person who can handle the position.
Q: Has there ever been a conflict in your class? If yes, how did you handle it?
Olajide: Towards me, yes. I had an issue with a particular guy even before we resumed. So, there was a time he said I should help him get an accommodation because he was a staylite, and he was required to pack his load at the end of the session. When he came to me, I told him that I was in a tutorial, but he kept on pestering me till I stopped replying to him. Another incident happened with the same guy when he asked me to do something I couldn’t do at that moment. He really took the situation to mind and when our timetable had clashing courses, he always called me out for it. It got to the point that I had to say something, so I sent him a voice note on the group. I told the class that the purpose of the voice note was not to justify myself; I just had to make it public because he blocked me on WhatsApp. I didn’t stop there; I reached out to him through an external source, apologised, and we settled it. Also, there are many instances when people have dragged themselves on the class group. As the class leader, I had to come in, not necessarily in public, sometimes, but I reached out to them in their DMs.
Q: Between leadership and academics, which is more challenging?
Olajide: I think it’s leadership because it affects academics. If one is not careful, the duties make one unable to read and face exams.
Q: Do you think you think your class members take you more as a leader than as a friend?
Olajide: Actually, it depends. Although when I come online, I sound a bit strict and official, I joke with people physically. There’s always this “ML” tag, but it doesn’t stop us from talking well. Honestly, I think people see me more as a leader.
Q: How well do you manage your relationship with members of UIMSA at large?
Olajide: I’m going to be very sincere. I don’t have the character of extending hands towards people too much. But then, as far as I’m concerned, I think I know all the MLs from the 100 to the 600-levels, and trust me, they know me very well too. There’s never been a time that I needed something from any of them, and I couldn’t enter their DMs. But saying I know this person in 2K27, I know this class member in 2K26, I’m not a fan of that. I know a few people, and they are people I can always reach out to when I have problems.
Q: What advice can you share for anyone who is trying to become a majority leader like you?
Olajide: I will actually sit the person down and give him or her a very detailed explanation of what leadership means, and everything they’re likely going to face. Many people just want the name. Obviously, there are so many people who will still walk up to me in this 2K29 set. I the conversation, I would have seen the one who is likely going to become the majority leader of the class. So, anyone I see potential in, I’ll call the person, ask if they’re sure that they can do it and tell them the things they are going to come across. So, if they feel like they have the ability, I will not discourage them. If people had discouraged me, I would never be where I am. However, I will make them understand that it’s not going to be easy.
Q: That signals the end of the interview. Thank you for your time.
Mr Abimboye has been the majority leader for just 5 months, yet the challenges he has faced reiterate the need for patience, empathy, resilience and above all, sacrifice. In subsequent articles, we will hear from other majority leaders in UIMSA. Stay tuned!
