MEET THE CURRENT SPEAKER OF NAPS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

BY: FALADE MOFIYINFOLUWA SHALOM

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon ma’am

MADAM SPEAKER: Good afternoon

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: I am a psychLens press correspondent. Can you briefly give us a short profile about yourself?

MADAM SPEAKER: Okay. My name is Afolayan Oluwapelumi Jemima, a 400level student of this esteemed department of psychology, currently serving as the speaker of the NPHR. I am from a family of 5 i.e.my parents and 3 siblings. I am the first child; I have a younger brother and a much younger sister. I am a Christian, a very devoted Christian.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: As a 400level student of psychology, how has been your journey so far?

MADAM SPEAKER: I can’t lie o, this department can be very stressful. But I think right from my 100level it has been quite okay though there will always be challenges but I feel like I have been able to scale through them and overcome some of them. There are some I am still currently dealing with but still it is a very sweet journey if you actually have people that are on the same page with you.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: Alright. So, you said you had some challenges when you were in 100level. Can you pls tell us about them and how you were able to manage them.

MADAM SPEAKER: Okay, you know when you are just getting into the university, there this mentality of “oh wow am finally a U.I student” everything is getting to your head and you want to explore and all that. I would say that one of my major challenge was that I wasn’t really focused in the sense that I wanted explore and experience everything. Definitely not partying because I don’t see myself as a party person but then I wanted to be out there you know. I just found out that its wasn’t me because I was inconveniencing myself in some ways. I wasn’t really okay with always going out but then my acquaintances will be like” Oh, Jemima there is this program and this other program” and I would want to go. I attended as many Freshers program I could attend, Fellowship programs also and even programs organized by the department. It made me really distracted sort of.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: Okay, so how were you able to manage them?

MADAM SPEAKER: I think I was able to manage them in the sense that I came back them to my senses. My parents were always reminding “Jemima, remember the reason why you are in school” They would always call to ask me about my welfare. And I can be very honest with them like totally honest with them. So, I would tell them this is what is actually happening. Sometimes, I might not even need to tell before they say what is actually on my mind which really helped. Also, I had friends who knew when to tell me that “Jemima, Oya that’s okay, its time to do this and do this” Lastly, through the guidance of the holy spirit and through prayers. Basically, you know when the holy spirit is telling you that don’t do this thing and stuffs like that.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: Alright, thank you for that. So, were you involved in any social activities from your 100 to 300level days? Like being part of the Literary and debate association, sporting activities etc.

MADAM SPEAKER: No, I don’t see myself as someone who can participate in debates. I am also not a sporty person. The most I can do in sport is walking exercise and that can be pretty hard. As for L&D, No. I definitely have the fear of speaking in front of people. I can’t do L&D. I think the only social activity I was basically in was just NPHR and I have been fully involved right from my 100level.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: So, you have been an honorable in the house right from your 100level?

MADAM SPEAKER: Yes, right from 100level.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: Okay, can you tell us when exactly you attained the position of the speaker?

MADAM SPEAKER: Okay. I think it was this year. Though it was meant to be last year but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, everybody had to go home. The inauguration was meant to be before resumption but the resumption date was postponed till further notice so, we had to wait until we resumed for the online session and the inauguration was done during that time.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: Wows. Moving forward, you are currently the speaker of the NPHR, if I am correct. Can you briefly tell us your role and achievement so far?

MADAM SPEAKER: Hmmm. I think basically, its to sit as the head of the NPHR when it comes to making decisions and make sure there is enough coordination in the house. And about my achievement, from the past tenure, one thing I have seen is that there is always some kind of friction between honorable in house, between executives and sometimes between the congressmen. So, basically my achievement is that I make sure I give a platform for everybody to have a say. I have been much open to hearing about the concerns of people and to make sure that things are actually moving forward. Also, to try and build a synergy or a substantially good relationship between the house and the executives because that has always been a problem in every house.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: So, from what you have said, I can say that any psychology student can walk up to you at any point in time to ask you questions about the house and you will readily answer them. Right?

MADAM SPEAKER: Yes, I will be available to answer them at any point in time.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: Okay, that’s good. So far, have there been challenges while working with your team i.e. Your fellow executives.

MADAM SPEAKER: There have been a lot of challenges because being a lenient and playful person, it’s been difficult to actually for my fellow executives and honorable to differentiate between my serious mood and playful mood, it takes a while for them to finally realize that I am no longer playing or joking and I mean business. I think that is my major challenge but then another one is that I feel like I haven’t done enough for the house because I have also been very busy with other things. Like there I feel there is so more to do but despite all, I am proud with what I have accomplished so far.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: Can you tell us the activities you engage in at your leisure time?

MADAM SPEAKER: At my leisure time? Wow, I watch animes. I enjoy animes so much. I also watch K-dramas. Most importantly, I sleep a lot. I think it’s probably because I work at night so most of the time, I find myself sleeping if I am less busy. Sometimes, I go for a walk. I like walking at night, going through U.I, passing all those BQs side, enjoying the fresh breeze and listening to music. Those are my hobbies though it looks boring.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: Okay, so how have you been able to combine academics with role as the speaker. Has it been easy or difficult?

MADAM SPEAKER: To be very honest, I think I have been able to quite strike a balance between my academics and other things I am involved in. Aside from being the speaker of the house, I serve as an executive in my fellowship which is very demanding for me. So, being able to strike a balance took a while, it didn’t just start. I started making sure from my 200level that even though I am involved in these activities, one part of my life is not affected by the other thing I am doing. And to be honest, it has been through the wisdom of the holy spirit. Furthermore, I try as much as possible to plan my activities for the day.

PSYCHLENS CORRESPONDENT: Alright. It’s been nice talking with you madam speaker. Thank you so much and have a nice day.

MADAM SPEAKER: And you too.