Meet Your Excos—President
An Exclusive Interview With Miles Nwachuckwu
As we conclude the first half of the session, it’s only right for us to get to know our excos personally and see what they’ve been up to so far and their plans for the rest of the session. In this article, we had a long-awaited interview with Miles Nwachuckwu, our faculty’s President.
This interview has been shortened and edited for clarity
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
My name is Miles Nwachuckwu, popularly known as the “Alpha Male.” I am the third of a family of four and the first son, born to an igbo home in Ebonyi state. I love black with a blend of blue, the best colour in the world. I like being active and always find myself outdoors. I am also a personal fitness trainer and I am working towards getting my iFitness personal trainer certificate. Personal fitness training is an avenue for me to help people be a better version of themselves.
What inspired you to pursue your role as a ULES executive?
I decided to run for the position of ULES President after serving my tenure as the ULES Welfare Secretary. My journey from serving as a class representative to Departmental Welfare Secretary and then ULES Welfare Secretary made it possible to interact with my course mates and other students, I learnt that students have a lot going on. They need guidance, motivation, and most especially, a listening ear. We students are not so different, the major difference is in our matriculation number.
Could you share some key experiences or milestones that have shaped your journey so far?
A key experience was when I ran for the role of my department welfare secretary, a role people believed was a feminine position. Running against a lady and someone a level above mine felt overwhelming. Moreover, I only campaigned a night before the election due to the competition I was engaged with in Abuja during the campaign period. Amidst all these, I emerged with the highest number of votes after the election. Right there and , I realized that maybe I’m doing something right and if given the opportunity to do more I might just get it right.
Who are your role models or influencers?
“No role Modelz”. I really don’t have a role model or influencer. I strive to be the best version of myself and improve how I interact with people and my surroundings. I also model myself towards being better than my former self. When I feel something is right, I strive to get it done in the best way possible.
Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives within the faculty that you're excited about?
Uuuuh! A lot! In terms of projects, we are currently rounding up the faculty roadmap which actually helps students navigate the faculty. We are also working towards having running water in the faculty, either by utilizing the overhead tanks or drilling a borehole. In terms of events, we have The Faculty week, ULES Games, ECX grand finale, PAADC 8.0, Engineering dinner, and the list continues. I am impressed by what the ULES Academic Resource Board(ULES ARB) has been doing lately. ULES ARB is a body that was recently revived, and they have accomplished a lot. I am very excited to see what more they will accomplish.
Can you share a memorable success story or achievement?
One of the most memorable success stories so far is the story behind how I won the election to become president of ULES. Due to the nature of student politics, I wasn’t so sure if I would win the election. My opponent during the election had served as the faculty’s Welfare Secretary, and he did a great job. I also performed well as Welfare Secretary, so it was almost impossible to choose between us. I remember the night before the election I barely could sleep and this had gone on for about three days. My team and I kept making calls upon calls. The day of the election came, voting ended and I won the election with a margin over 400 votes! Proudest moment!
How do you balance work, personal life, and self-care in your busy schedule?
When it comes to work, for me, it is business before pleasure. Although my schedule can be very tight, everything I do is very structured. I apply time management in my work and everything I do. I set alarms and reminders to keep me abreast of meetings, classes, work and events. I also scale tasks in order of their importance.
Do you have any favourite books, podcasts, or articles that have had a significant impact on your career?
Of course. I love Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
What do you hope to accomplish in the 2023/2024 session?
I want to be better in everything I do, for real. Personally, I also want to get my second certification but first international personal trainer certificate. Asides the projects and events, I want to make sure there is a smooth transition from the current ULES executives to the next. I also want to improve my football.
Could you share a moment when academics became very overwhelming and how did you go about solving those overwhelming issues?
If I remember clearly, we resumed back to school after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in the first semester of 300 level, and we were set to take one of the toughest General Engineering(GEG) courses. Trying to cover a lot of material within a short period made that semester very difficult. But, I had a couple of classmates who actually assisted me. The first semester of 400 level was also another tough semester. The difficulty wasn’t just in the courses we offered, but also in the content of each course. It was surely an overwhelming semester, but then again, I had people who I could beacon on during this period.
Welcome to the faculty of engineering moment?
Ahhh! Yes o! Because I had an A in Further Mathematics in my final examinations in secondary school I thought I knew Mathematics. But when I started solving GEG questions I realised I no actually sabi anything. I also thought I knew Chemistry but CHM sat me down. These were moments I sure will never forget.