By JOHN ONAH, Abuja –
A Public Lecture in honour of Professor Emeritus of Education, Prof Benedicta Egbo under the theme, “Reclaiming Nigeria’s Future: Strategic Frameworks for Achieving Transformative Change,” will hold on March 21, 2024 at the Congress Hall, NAF Centre, Abuja.
The Chairman, Planning Committee of the event, Dr Chiakor Alfred, who made this known at a pre-event media briefing in Abuja on Monday, said the event would also provide the opportunity to unveil and present to the general public, Professor Benedicta Egbo’s seminar and critically acclaimed book entitled “EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN 21ST CENTURY NIGERIA.”
According to him, “the current realities require that we see it as a patriotic duty to contribute to the processes of articulating choices in promoting the ideals of nation building, socio-economic progress and transformative change at this critical time of our national consciousness.”
He noted that the intensity of pressures and challenges facing the nation, makes it imperative to promote robust nation building endeavours and discourse such as this public lecture, which is envisages to provide the opportunity to proffer suggestions and practical strategies that will lead to positive and transformative change for the common good.
“The Public Lecture is therefore an initiative that aims to deepen democracy and advocacy; promote sustainable development as well as the prioritization of national goals and value orientation,” Dr Chiakor said.
He stated that the public lecture was a call to collaborative action and strategic partnership that will move the country forward adding that with an impressive assembly of scholars, public intellectuals, technocrats, political actors, etc, and robust interface with various Stakeholders both at home and in the diaspora, it is expected that discussions at the forum will provide important roadmap to the levers of governance as well for achieving the Nigeria of our dreams.
According to Chiakor, the Public Lecture will be delivered by Prof Adele Jinadu – Professor of Political Science and Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy and Development.
“By building synergy, the event shall engender commitment to shared responsibilities towards achieving the institutionalization of the road map and priorities of the policy frameworks crafted to provide stability, security and overall development Nigeria’s priorities,” he said.
It is also the expectation of the Conveners that the derivatives from the event shall enhance knowledge leadership & management, regenerate confidence in marshalling productive forces to turn around the fortunes of the country, as espoused by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at different fora, both locally and internationally.
He hinted that the book: “EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN 21ST CENTURY NIGERIA,” written from an interdisciplinary perspective, covers a wide range of topics on education and sustainable development within the context of a competitive 21st Century global arena that demands innovation, creativity, adaptive skills, multiple literacies (including knowledge of ICTs), environmental stewardship and responsibility.
He said: “It does so by examining and then, proffering practical strategies for addressing the myriad challenges facing education in Nigeria (and Africa more generally) while simultaneously emphasizing the interrelationship between education, society and sustainable development. Importantly, the theme of inclusive and environmentally responsive socio-economic development cuts across all nine chapters of the book”.
“The overarching message of the book is that engendering sustainable development in Nigeria requires significant overhaul and transformation of the country’s education system through visionary, innovative.”
The event will be under the Chairmanship of Major-General Chris Abutu Garuba (rtd), while Chief Arthur Eze – Ozoigbondu of Ndigbo, will be the Chief Launcher.
Other members of the planning committee at the media briefing included the CEO of Equity Advocacy and publisher of The Woman Today Newspaper, Dr Ene Ede and the Country Director of Democracy for Africa Programme, Mr. Benedict Bem Kokoiwen.
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