MEET YOUR NAPS VICE- PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE— EMMANUEL ALADEDUNYE

By Fawunmi Elizabeth

On the 27th of September 2026, Psychlens Press had a conversation with one of the aspirants for the position of Vice President of NAPS, focusing on their vision, plans, and perspectives on the office they are seeking. The interview provided an opportunity to gain insight into the candidate’s understanding of the responsibilities of the Vice President and their proposed approach to serving NAPSITES.

Interviewer: Good afternoon, Mr Emmanuel

Mr Emmanuel: Good afternoon, Ma

Interviewer: I hope your day, although wrapping up already, is going well?

Mr Emmanuel: I would say not really as I’m currently battling with Malaria but overall we thank God, I hope yours is going well?

Interviewer : Ohh sorry. Hope you are getting better.

Yes my day is going very smoothly

Mr Emmanuel: Yes I am. That’s great to hear

Interviewer: So, thank you for making out time for today's interview.

Mr Emmanuel: Thank you for having me.

Interviewer: I'd like that you do a proper introduction of yourself, Mr Emmanuel.

And I'd like to also make you understand that every response you'd be giving will be as though you're speaking with NAPSITES, not 'Elizabeth', in that sense.

I hope you get?

Please, do note that, you have a maximum of 2 minutes to answer open-ended questions like my first question.

Mr Emmanuel: Yes ma, My name is Aladedunye Emmanuel Adetoye, a 200-level Psychology student at the University of Ibadan, and I’m the face behind THE IGNITE MOVEMENT, running for Vice President of The great Nigerian Association Of Psychology Students (NAPS).

I’m currently a first class student(with the highest CGPA in my level). Beyond academics, I’m actively involved with the Asido Campus Network and the Student Christian Movement (SCMUI), and I contribute to curriculum and training for youth wellbeing programming at Cogito Minds Foundation, I also serve as the division head of UISRIC for the humanities and social sciences, I’m a fellow of the Bridge Program and a Mental health advocate among many others.

Interviewer: Alright, that's fine.

So topping the list of my questions will be why you are contesting for the Vice president of the Association(NAPS)?

Mr Emmanuel: I am running because I believe this is the right time to drive the kind of change that redefines what psychology students can do, reshapes how psychology and psychology students are perceived, and reflects the real impact we, as psychology students, are capable of creating. And just like a quote I like goes ‘If not you then who, if not now then when, if not here then where’?

Interviewer: Hmmm, that is nice.

So my next question is what does the position of Vice President mean to you beyond just being the second-in-command?

Mr Emmanuel: For me it means being in a position to serve, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” by Mahatma Gandhi, this is a quote I so much delight in.

And drive the change I so much desire to see in our great department, where I have the platform to make excellence not a thing that seems far off but a daily living reality for psychology students.

Interviewer: You are saying that you see it as an avenue or opportunity to make a change happen, right?

Mr Emmanuel: Yes on a larger scale.

Interviewer: Alright that is nice.

Moving on I would like to ask why do you believe you are suitable for this position and was there a particular experience or issue that influenced your decision to run?

Mr Emmanuel: I believe I’m suitable for this position, as I have come to realize that most times you can’t see beyond your experience, I have had the opportunity to be in rooms nobody believed psychology students should be in and I have seen in real life how much we need to take charge of what psychology can do and why we are needed. I have seen on several occasions where we have had students doing great things but not being noticed for it and that has served as one of the drivers for me contesting as I hope to see a generation of psychology students visible for what we do.

Interviewer: So, what do you consider to be the major challenges currently facing students in the department and what are the major things you hope to achieve if elected?

Mr Emmanuel: One of the major challenges, would be practicalizing psychology. The beauty of psychology is when theory becomes practical and that’s one of the things I hope to achieve. Another is building a name for ourselves on different platforms that shape who we are becoming, for example LinkedIn I strongly believe that Psychology students need to carve out a space for ourselves on this professional platforms and more and I hope to achieve this during my tenure through structured trainings, practical classes, a community for us and much more

Interviewer: The Vice President often works closely with the President. How do you intend to contribute to the administration without simply becoming an extension of the President?

Mr Emmanuel: I plan to not only work hand in hand with the president but to also drive initiatives that bring development to our association as a whole and this would include training to prepare Psychology students for the job market like CV building and also opportunities to gain live experiences with seasoned psychologists.

Interviewer: How accessible do you intend to be to students after the election?

That is how do you intend to make sure that the opinion of ordinary students are heard, not just those of your close friends, coursemates or close supporters?

Mr Emmanuel: I would always be free to listen to their complaints, questions at any point.

One other thing is that I plan to have a suggestion box where students can reach me or anybody that would be part of my committee if at any point I’m slacking in any of my duties or promises as I hope to build my tenure on accountability and transparency.

Interviewer: Giving a scenario, Imagine the President makes a decision you believe is not in the best interest of students. What would you do?

Also, if you realise halfway through your tenure that one of your major campaign promises cannot be fulfilled, what would you do?

Mr Emmanuel: I would meet the president to tender my opinions and ask if there’s any way his or her decision could be reviewed. And take other appropriate actions.

I would ensure to maintain accountability and transparency all through my tenure hence there would be a release per semester or less on what we have done what we are doing and what we haven’t done yet and why it may not be feasible anymore; tendering an apology to the association and seeing if there’s any other way by which it can still be actualized.

Interviewer: Ok ,moving on. We have a few questions left. A very interesting question.

What do you think you can bring to the executive team that is different from what another person might bring?

Mr Emmanuel: I believe exposure, a very sound critical thinking, a robust network and a drive to do the best at all times.

Interviewer: Moving to a more personal aspect, How do you intend to balance your academic responsibilities with the demands of the office?

Mr Emmanuel: I have been privileged to balance my academics with different extracurricular activities right from 100 level through already existing time management structures, prioritization of what is truly important and I have been able to do that quite well as my 100level result is a testament.

Interviewer: So you are saying it won't be so difficult balancing your academic responsibilities with the demands of the office.

Mr Emmanuel: Yes, I am. As I have also consulted previous Vice Presidents on how they achieved balance.

Interviewer: Alright, so before the last question we will like to know beyond the promises you will make during this campaign, what should students know about the person they would actually be electing?

Mr Emmanuel: I’m someone who has always been driven to create impact in the lives of people that come across me and this time won’t be different. I believe Excellence isn’t far fetched or meant for a selected few but is something everybody can achieve. I also believe strongly that Psychology isn’t lower than any discipline and we are not side characters in a story line, but we are the Protagonist. I don’t just make promises, I always actualize them.

Interviewer: So to the last question. “If you had just one minute to speak directly to the students who are still undecided about you, what would you want them to know?”

Mr Emmanuel : I would begin by saying the Psychology Student of today has to be more than a bearer of good grades, we have to be pioneers, present in every space that shapes who we are becoming, all still based on Excellence.

I promise to build a department like no other, a generation of Psychology Students who are tired of settling for average but believe they can do more, be more and are more.

That is what I stand for and that is where the name IGNITE arose from.

I- intellect, G- growth, N- Networking, I- influence, T-Total development and E- Excellence the bed rock of it all.

Interviewer : And we have come to the end of the interview.

Thank you for honouring this interview. It’s been an insightful conversation hearing your plans for NAPSITES, We will ensure your views are accurately reported to the electorate without bias. We wish you a peaceful campaign. Thank you.

Mr Emmanuel: Thank you for having me today, it was an honor.