Meet The Aspiring Vice President - Queen F

Hi! My name is Kehinde and I will like to interview you. I am a member of the AVMS UI Editorial Board, and this is a candidate profile interview. The main idea behind this is to get members of the AVMS to know you better since you are vying for the position of Vice President in the association. Would you be comfortable with me asking you some questions?

Of course, I would! Go ahead. Throw it all at me!

Thank you. Can you start by telling me your name and your class level in the faculty?

My name is Abdulsalam Fatihah and I am in 400 level, popularly known as DVM III.

Do you have a nickname you go by other than your full name?

Some people call me Queen F, while others call me Fatihah.

All right! Let's dive deeper. Is there any specific reason why you applied for the position of Vice President? What do you think are the most important skills that you should have, as someone vying for this position?

The reason why I applied for this position is that I am passionate about positive impact and I believe charity begins from home. I want to influence people around me and I think the best way to do this is by holding an executive position in the faculty and coming up with innovative programs and ideas that would be beneficial for AVMS. The most important skill I should have, first of all, is a good interpersonal relationship with the rest of the members of faculty, lecturers and even non-academic staff in the faculty. I also believe in being passionate because it would make one perform well at one’s task. In addition, I believe in being innovative because the world is changing and so should I. I guess that is all I have to say.

Okay. As a student, what other posts have you held, including those outside of the faculty of Veterinary Medicine?

Well, I have held a lot of positions. Within the faculty, I served as a senator in 2019/2020. I was also a member of the Dog show committee during the same session. I am an executive member of the International Veterinary Medicine Association (IVSA), University of Ibadan, and I have held that position since 2021 till this present date. I have been an executive member of JCI, Unibadan branch since 2021. I have also been a member of the Global warming shield foundation since 2021. I am currently serving as the secretary of the UI SU SCR Health Committee.

Wow! Could you tell me a bit about your background? I would like a description that is very brief.

I was born and bred in Lagos State before moving to Ibadan for my tertiary education. Initially, I did not intend to study Veterinary Medicine. However, ever since I have been in the department, my initial thinking has changed, and I have built my passion around Veterinary Medicine.

How do you intend to work under stress and time constraints if you eventually become the Vice President?

Managing stress is something every veterinary medical student should have. I think proper planning is the way forward. I intend to plan ahead and take note of events that are happening. That’s the only way I intend to manage the stress surrounding the position and time constraints.

What do you look for in a team?

Diligence, Understanding and Optimism.

Would you consider yourself a strong team player?

Yes, I do. I have worked in several committees and over time, I have learnt how to handle different personalities, as long as we can put aside our differences and work towards achieving a common goal.

That’s fantastic! Do you feel equipped to handle the demands of this position if you are elected into office?

Yes, I do. I feel like I have been preparing for this role for a long time. No matter the challenges or demands, I feel with my experience, I can handle them.

What do you think would be the most challenging aspect of this position and what are you going to do to overcome that issue as a whole?

The most challenging part I think would be to make people embrace change. Many people are always slow or skeptical about accepting changes. They like to stick to the status quo. I would be coming up with a lot of innovative ideas for the association, and it is my hope that members of the association will embrace these ideas and make the best use of them.

I intend to carry members of the association along in every process so that they can see from my point of view and see that change sometimes can be very good.

This question may be quite personal, but do you have any hobbies that you engage in and enjoy?

I love everything art. I watch stage plays, write poetry and surf the internet on interesting topics. I love reading books too! All these help to enhance my creative side.

What is your personal motto and do you have anyone who inspires you?

Well, my motto would be, “making maximum positive impact,” and if anyone has inspired me, it would be Queen Elizabeth Hall and Queen Rania of Jordan.

All right. We have come to the end of this interview. Thank you very much for your time.

It was a pleasure!

Written By Kehinde Oni.