Director of Welfare
Christian Chigozirim Favour
Biography
My name is Christian Chigozirim Favour, a visionary and. a passionate leader. I hail from ORLU in IMO STATE, NJABA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA.
Manifesto
MANIFESTO FOR THE OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF WELFARE CHRISTIAN CHIGOZIRIM FAVOUR “PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST: WELFARE THAT WORKS” 01 — MY STORY My name is Christian Chigozirim Favour, and I believe that student welfare should never be treated as an afterthought. During my first year in the University, I personally experienced what it means to struggle with hunger. It affected my concentration, my ability to study effectively and, ultimately, my academic performance. That experience taught me something very important: “A student cannot be expected to perform at their best when their basic needs are not being met.” For every University student, there are fundamental needs that directly affect academic success and quality of life — food, accommodation, transportation, healthcare and the ability to meet essential financial and academic obligations. This is why my interest in the office of Director of Welfare is not simply about holding a position. It is about using the position to build practical systems that make student life better. 02 — A RECORD OF WORK I am not asking students to trust a promise; I am asking them to look at my record. From serving as Vice President and President of the Department of Anatomy, to coordinating student programmes, strengthening student structures, leading academic initiatives, engaging stakeholders and executing projects, I have consistently focused on identifying problems and working towards practical solutions. These experiences have taught me that: “Leadership is not about occupying a position; it is about creating impact.” That is the same approach I intend to bring to the Directorate of Welfare. 03 — THE STUDENT WELFARE REALITY Student welfare is bigger than giving out gifts or responding only when there is an emergency. Students have everyday needs. They need to eat. They need somewhere conducive to live. They need transportation. They need access to healthcare. They need academic materials. They sometimes need help meeting essential financial obligations. I cannot promise to personally solve every problem students face. That would be unrealistic. What I can promise is to listen, identify genuine needs, build partnerships, mobilise available resources, engage the appropriate authorities and follow up on issues that affect students. The objective is simple: “To make student welfare more accessible, responsive, organised and practical.” 04 — MY WELFARE AGENDA 01. THE CAMPUS FOOD BANK INITIATIVE No student should have to study on an empty stomach. The Campus Food Bank will be a structured welfare intervention, particularly during examination periods when academic pressure is at its peak. Through partnerships with food companies, businesses, alumni, philanthropists, food vendors and other willing stakeholders, we will mobilise food items and resources to support students experiencing food insecurity. How it will work: • Students will access essential food items through a transparent voucher redemption system. • Depending on available funding and donations, items will be free or heavily subsidised. • Partnerships will be established with businesses within and outside the University community. • Contributions and distributions will be properly documented. • Students with genuine needs will be prioritised without unnecessary stigma. “Temporary financial difficulty should not become a barrier to academic success.” 02. SAFE FOOD, HEALTHY STUDENTS What students consume matters. Student welfare goes beyond providing food. The safety and quality of what students consume must also be taken seriously. I will advocate for stronger collaboration between student leadership, University authorities, relevant health and regulatory bodies, and campus vendors to promote compliance with food safety standards. Where applicable, edible products sold within the University environment should undergo appropriate regulatory and product-registration verification, including checks for relevant NAFDAC registration and other applicable health requirements. I will also advocate for sensitisation of food vendors on: • Proper food handling and storage. • Hygiene standards. • Safe preparation practices. • Expired or improperly labelled products. • Responsible sale of consumable products within the University environment. Through partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers and qualified medical professionals, I will also seek to facilitate appropriate student health initiatives and access to basic healthcare information. “Students deserve not only affordable food, but safe food and a healthier environment in which to live and learn.” 03. A CLEANER UNIPORT A clean environment is a conducive environment. The environment in which students learn directly affects their comfort, health and overall University experience. I will work towards making the University of Port Harcourt a cleaner and healthier campus through advocacy, monitoring and collaboration with the appropriate University authorities. THE CLEAN UNIPORT INITIATIVE There will be periodic welfare and environmental checks across: • Departments. • Lecture halls. • Student hostels. • Common areas. • High-traffic student locations. The objective will not be to witch-hunt departments or individuals. Rather, it will be to identify environmental challenges, report them to the appropriate authorities and follow up until they are addressed. WASTE MANAGEMENT I will advocate for the provision and proper positioning of waste bins at strategic locations across campus, particularly in areas with high student traffic. We will also promote student awareness around proper waste disposal and environmental responsibility. “A clean environment is a conducive environment, and a conducive environment is a safer environment where students can comfortably breathe, learn and thrive.” 04. WELFARE FOR EVERY STUDENT No student should be invisible. Students have different challenges. For some, the challenge may be feeding. Another may need accommodation. Another may need transportation. Another may be struggling with school fees or textbooks. Another may have a physical or other special need. That is why welfare must not operate with a one-size-fits-all approach. I will collaborate with the Directorate of Special Needs and other relevant stakeholders to identify students who require specific interventions and connect them with available support. Where possible, this may include assistance or referrals relating to: • School fees. • Textbooks and academic materials. • Basic welfare needs. • Accessibility challenges. • Special student needs. • Emergency welfare situations. The objective is to create a welfare referral and intervention network where students with genuine challenges are not left to navigate them alone. 05. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR STUDENT WELFARE Welfare requires people, resources and systems. The office of the Director of Welfare cannot solve every problem alone. Therefore, I will actively pursue partnerships with: • University authorities. • Student leadership structures. • Alumni. • Pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. • Food and consumer-goods companies. • Businesses within the University environment. • NGOs and philanthropic organisations. • Student-focused organisations. • Other relevant stakeholders. My previous experience in stakeholder engagement, programme coordination, mobilisation and project execution has shown me that sustainable results come from collaboration. The focus will therefore be on resource mobilisation and strategic partnerships, because sustainable welfare requires more than promises. It requires people, resources and systems. 05 — HOW I INTEND TO DELIVER My approach to welfare will be practical. IDENTIFY Listen to students and identify genuine welfare challenges. PRIORITISE Determine which problems require immediate attention and which require longer-term intervention. MOBILISE Engage University authorities, student structures, businesses, alumni, healthcare providers, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders. IMPLEMENT Turn available resources and partnerships into actual welfare interventions. FOLLOW UP A welfare initiative should not end when an announcement is made. I will follow up on interventions and unresolved complaints. Where resources are mobilised for welfare interventions, transparency and proper documentation will remain important. “My goal is not to promise everything. My goal is to deliver what is realistically within reach and continuously work to expand what is possible.” 06 — MY COMMITMENT I am not coming with a manifesto designed simply to sound good during an election. I am coming with a welfare agenda built around problems students actually face. I know what hunger can do to a student's academic performance because I have experienced it myself. I understand that welfare is not merely about giving students money or gifts. “Welfare is about creating an environment where students have a fair opportunity to learn, live, remain healthy and succeed.” If elected, I will work to make student welfare a visible priority, while working constructively with the University administration and other stakeholders to achieve what is realistically possible. My goal is to build a welfare office that listens, identifies problems, mobilises resources, connects students to solutions and follows through. MY WORD My name is Favour. I do not make empty promises. “I work — and my work is evident.” I am not promising that I can solve every challenge students face. I am promising that when there is a problem within my capacity to address, I will not ignore it. I will listen. I will engage. I will mobilise. I will act. And I will follow up. Because your welfare deserves more than words. IT DESERVES WORK. WITH FAVOUR, YOUR WELFARE IS IN SAFE HANDS. Thank you.