WHERE IS THE SOCIAL DIRECTOR? A WAKE-UP CALL TO REKINDLE SOCIALS INCLUSIVITY

In every Students’ union, the Office of the Social Director plays a vital role in shaping campus life beyond academics. It is the centre saddled with the responsibility of creating experiences that bring students together, events that build community, foster expression, and define the social culture of the institution.

According to the LASUSU constitution, the main responsibility of the Social Director is to: 

“organize and coordinate all social and cultural activities of the Union.”

In Lagos State University, this office has consistently been associated with some of the most anticipated events on campus, such as: Mr/Miss LASU Freshers, Costume Day, Mr/Miss LASU, Ojude LASU, among other activities that illuminate the social life on campus.These events have proven to not just be solely based on entertainment; but contribute greatly to making the campus experience memorable for students.

Surprisingly, since the beginning of the 36th administration ‘Igbega LASUSU’, there has been a growing concern among students about the glaring decline in the visibility and effectiveness of the Office of the Social Director in the person of Comr. Aromire Muiz, politically known as NOVA.

For many LASUites, activities from his office have been largely unnoticed; more like coming like a thief in the night. Similarly, in instances where events are organized, awareness often remains limited, with information failing to reach a significant number of the student population. In fact, it would not be far-fetched to say that a considerable number of students are unaware of who currently occupies the position of the Social Director.

This situation raises important questions about communication, planning, and execution.

A look back at the previous administration offers a point of comparison. The former Social Director, widely known as Leon, had his shortcomings, yet his tenure was marked by consistent activity and visibility. Events were frequent, publicity was widespread, and there was a clear effort to engage the student body. Notably, key events like Ojude LASU were executed at a scale that resonated across faculties and departments.

In contrast, the current administration appears to struggle with visibility and reach. There have been instances where students only became aware of events after they had already taken place, or just days before they were scheduled to hold. This raises a fundamental concern: how can students participate in events they were not aware of, and given enough time to plan for?

A recent example is the LASU Costume Day held on Tuesday, March 24. Widely regarded as one of the anticipated social events on campus; the turnout reportedly fell short of expectations, with less than 300 students in attendance. Beyond attendance, there were also concerns about the overall coordination and delivery of the event, with many students describing it as underwhelming compared to previous editions.

This brings into focus a larger question: can the current Social Director successfully deliver on larger, more culturally significant events such as Ojude LASU, an event that traditionally draws participation from across faculties and celebrates cultural identity on campus? Interestingly, the Social Director has announced the plans for Ojude LASU to be held in May. While this is a commendable development, the track record of his previous events casts a strong doubt on his ability to pull off this significant event.

From all indications, in order to achieve a successful Ojude LASU, the Social Director has to make use of the media now more than ever, in addition to providing consistent updates about his plans, in order to keep students abreast and prepared for the upcoming cultural heritage event.

Furthermore, it is important to note that the challenge goes beyond hosting events, but about sustaining a standard and building on the legacy of previous administrations while creating new benchmarks for future leaders.

It is also important to emphasize the role of collaboration within the Students’ Union. Effective communication remains key to the success of any initiative. The Office of the Social Director and PRO seem too far apart, with the latter rarely sharing graphics of the events of the former. A close look at the LASUSU Info channel would give you an understanding of how the media have been unable to understand details of events coming from the social director’s office. We urge both parties to closely work together to ensure that information about events is properly disseminated across all official platforms. Without this synergy, even well-planned events risk poor turnout and limited impact.

Ultimately, the Office of the Social Director is too important to be inactive or underwhelming. It is an office that directly influences student engagement, campus culture, and the overall vibrancy of university life.

This is not merely criticism, it is a call for reflection and improvement.

LASUites deserve a social calendar that is active, inclusive, and well-communicated. The expectation is not perfection, but intentionality, visibility, and execution.

As the semester progresses and major events lie ahead, the hope is that the Office of the Social Director will rise to the occasion, deliver on its mandate, and restore confidence in its role within the student community.