On the night of Wednesday, 25th of June, 2025, the Vice-President of the University of Ibadan Medical Students’ Association, Abu-Idris Meliat, presented a report on the 63rd UIMSA Health Week at the 11th Ordinary Meeting of the UIMSA Senate held at Famewo Common Room, Alexander Brown Hall, UCH.
As part of a meeting that included Accounts of Stewardship from six executives, dissolution of the executive council, and lifting of the electoral ban, the UIMSA VP presenting a 33-page report detailing the activities and finances of the June 7th to 14th Health Week. Details of Health Week activities were included in the first part of this report, including synopses of events and names of awardees.
The Vice-President reported Health Week related income of N9,522,650, with a sum of N5,922,000 sourced from external donations, and N1,470,750 raised from sale of dinner tickets. Expenditure however exceeded that sum, with the association racking up a bill of N10,139,670, left with a -N617,020 balance to offset. Significant amongst expenses was the Renaissance-themed MSA dinner, which cost N5,579,475, 55% of the health week expenditure. The closest item on the bill, ‘Publicity and Fundraising Logistics’, was well behind at N816,900.
Nestled within publicity expenses was a controversial design team fee. Costed at N12,000 per unit for eight designers, this expense amounted to N96,000. However, according to Oluwawapelumi Akin-Ajani, the Design Team Lead, the initial budget submitted to the Senate in advance of the Health Week stipulated a N15,000 per head payout for graphic designers, an amount vetted by the Graphic Design Lead and consistent with the payment from the two previous tenures. He was shocked to discover at the sitting that this amount, still yet to be paid to the designers, had been changed without due consultation. Speaking with the press, Akin-Ajani was taken aback by the development. “I think I’d say that their behaviour seems like a lack of regard for designers who sacrificed a lot to ensure that publicity of the Health Week was a success.”
The graphic designer further described a scenario in which his complaints during the senate meeting were shunted from the Vice-President to the Public Relations Officer and finally, to the President of the association. The situation was described as unfortunate by Inioluwa Joshua, UIMSA President, who further remarked, “It is very easy for senators to pontificate and say this should be done, that should be done, and this money should be given to the design team but are we forgetting the reality of things? Where is the money coming from? The fact remains there is no money. Unless the Senate will like to help to contribute to pay up the remaining balance.” These financial difficulties were corroborated by the Vice-President who highlighted a downward review of Interior Decoration costs upon negotiation with the vendor: Pleasant Jay Decor, from N3,000,000 to N1,300,000. Akin-Ajani however took offence with the fact that the design team had not been contacted at all before such a change.
When reached for comments, the erstwhile VP remarked that “the President slashed the price to N12,000,” and highlighted that the document was deliberated on by executives before being presented at the Senate meeting, but the PRO didn’t notice the slashing of the graphics design monies and wasn’t able to inform the design team of this development. “It was merely a communication issue, it was not an intentional thing at all.” She added that the amount of N617,020 recorded as Health Week deficit has not been offset, and UIMSA is currently owing the designers “and a couple of other vendors”. On plans to make up the deficit, Abu-Idris remarked, “I think that one of the things we are currently looking at is sponsors that promised but did not deliver… there are no promises as to where the money is going to come from but we’re going to try our best to offset it before the next tenure.”
Upon further deliberation, the UIMSA Senate ruled that the Executive Council write an apology letter to the design team immediately. This letter has not been submitted as of press time.