THE REDEFINITION AGENDA; A REVIEW OF THE FINANCE MINISTER’S MANIFESTO

By; Bibisinuoluwa Agarah

Manifestos often serve as persuasive tools, promising innovative solutions to the problems that students face. However, once elected, the focus often shifts from fulfilling these promises and this ultimately undermines the trust and confidence of the people who voted them in. This shows just how much need there is for a cultural shift in how we perceive and practice student politics. Manifestos are no longer promises; they are about who can design the best projects and think up the most innovative solutions.

Miss Ilori’s manifesto was themed the Redefinition Agenda. Redefinition refers to the act of changing the nature or limits of something or making people consider something in a new way. This may have been the mindset that Miss Ilori had when she stepped into the office of the Finance Minister. In her manifesto, she highlighted three plans she would fulfill while in office. The third ‘plan’ she itemized was not a plan at all but a pivotal role and responsibility of anyone in the position of Financial Minister. The third item stated that she would negotiate the best value for money and reduce excessive costs. This is a requirement for anyone to successfully fulfill their position as the Finance Minister in Queen Elizabeth II Hall or any other organization. As she stated in her manifesto, it is a “key responsibility” of the financial secretary. Thus, this point will not be analyzed in this manifesto review.

THE FINANCIAL LITERACY SUMMIT AND THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL NUGGETS

The Financial Literacy Summit

A pre-summit was held by the office of the Finance Minister on the third of February this year. The pre-summit was held virtually on the Queen Elizabeth II Hall Community group. According to the Finance Minister, the pre-summit was organized to ‘address common misconceptions about money and investing specifically faced by women. The invited speaker, Adedigba Rukayat Jumoke, an alumnus spoke on the relationship between gender and finances.

The Finance x Tech Summit was held during Hall Week on the 30th of April, and the finance aspect was themed Money Myths and Biases.

The Impact and Significance of the Summit on Queenites

The Pre-Summit titled Beyond Pink Investing: Addressing Gendered Assumptions in Personal Finance served as a way to empower Queenites to take control of their financial futures and provided them with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed regardless of societal expectations. Educating students on financial myths, saving strategies, and gender biases has played a significant role in the financial education of Queenites. It debunks false narratives and myths like "investment is for men" and "women are only interested in short-term investment goals”. This ensures that Queenites make informed financial decisions and no decisions are made on myths or hearsay.

Monthly Financial Nuggets

The office of the Finance Minister provided graphics containing financial tips. These graphics were shared with groups, and some of them were placed on notice boards. The nuggets would often include financial tips or 'how-tos', like how to create budgets and so on.

The Impact and Significance of the Financial Monthly Nugget on Queenites

The nuggets served to educate Queenites on healthy financial habits by encouraging Queenites to prioritize financial security and long-term planning on spending. The nuggets taught Queenites how to create a budget, thus equipping them with money management skills to help track their expenses, identify spending patterns, and make informed financial decisions.

Miss Ilori fulfilled all the promises she made to Queenites while she campaigned for the position of Finance Minister.

In essence, Miss Olatope's manifesto review underscores the critical need for accountability and follow-through in student politics. While manifestos serve as platforms for promising change, it is the actual execution of these promises that truly matters. Miss Ilori's manifesto, themed the Redefinition Agenda, showcased ambitious plans but also highlighted the importance of addressing key responsibilities inherent to the role. The Financial Literacy Summit and Monthly Financial Nuggets initiatives demonstrated proactive efforts to empower Queenites with financial knowledge. Ultimately, Miss Ilori's fulfillment of her promises reflects positively on her commitment to serving Queenites' interests and underscores the importance of accountability in student leadership.