I Appointed 50 Aides For Effective Governance — UNICAL SUG President Breaks Silence After Backlash

The first female president of the student union government (SUG) at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has explained why she appointed 50 persons as aides.

The student of political science, Blessing Alims, was elected as SUG president on June 14.

Speaking through her media aide, Madueke Chinenye, Alims said appointing 50 aides is to allow for effective governance.

According to her, “The student union government is tasked with ensuring the welfare and progress of our entire university community.

Just as a single tree does not make a forest. Effective governance for a student body of over 42,000 requires a collaborative effort. It is essential to have a strong and diverse team to implement our initiatives successfully.

With over 20 faculties and over 110 departments, the University of Calabar is a complex institution.

“Appointing aides ensures representation from each faculty and department, which is crucial for effective student mobilisation and governance. This approach allows us to address the unique needs of each segment of our student population.”

Alims said the appointments were voluntary and were without financial compensation.

“They are designed to foster career development, instilling a sense of duty and motivation in the appointees,” she added.