By Njide Ezeonyejiaku
The Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Benard Ifeanyi Odoh has described the Owelle of Onitsha, Chief Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as an implacable Pan-African whose political insurgence envisaged the development of nationalism and Pan-Africanism that birthed the unification of Africa into the United States of Africa.
Speaking at the 13th edition of the annual Zik Lecture Series organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Odoh noted that Dr. Azikiwe was not only a Nigerian who led the vanguard for Nigeria’s independence but is forever remembered for his political philosophy known as Zikism, which centred on Africa, hence his appellation as ‘Zik of Africa’.
While restating his commitment to actualizing his vision of establishing Nnamdi Azikiwe University among the top 50 universities in Africa and repositioning the University for a position in the first 500 universities in global ranking of universities through his Disruptive Development Model (2024-2029), he appealed for the support and cooperation of the staff, students and critical stakeholders of the University in the challenging but surmountable task.
The Vice-Chancellor lauded High Chief Senator Dr. Ben Ndi Obi for endowing the Zik Lecture Series in perpetuity to immortalize the name of Chief Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and also commended the Faculty of Social Sciences for sustaining the Lecture Series.
In his opening remark, the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah who chaired the event described the theme as timely and called for the sustenance of Zik’s Legacies.
The Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Frank-Collins Okafor in his address noted that the recurrent conflicts and contradictions generated by the spate of rising social movements in Africa has become worrisome to the realization of the long sought after integration in Africa which the Guest Lecturer, HE, Mohammed Ibn Chambers would interrogate.
On his part, the Benefactor of Zik Lecture Series, Senator Dr. Ben Ndi Obi expressed delight with the tremendous success the Lecture has become in the last thirteen years, adding that setting a platform for a robust academic discussions to key national, regional and international debates while building leaders that will be credible, informed, accountable and capable of solving the myriads of social problems facing the nation, continent and the world at large would delight the late Zik of Africa.
Delivering the 13th Lecture Series, the Guest Lecturer, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambers praised the philosophy and vision of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, stating that Africa of today will benefit a lot by working to realize the pan-Afican ideals of Zik.
Dr. Ibn Chambers identified political and economic integration of the continent, as envisioned by Zik, as Africa’s path to the greatness she has always yearned for and called for cooperation from all African nations towards the realization of the proposed Africa Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and a common currency for the region as a way of catalysing development of the continent.
In his goodwill message, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim commended Nnamdi Azikiwe University for keeping the memory of Zik alive, pointing out that all of us are beneficiaries of the visionary legend we are celebrating today.
Responding, the wife of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Prof Uche Azikiwe observed that.
November 16 is special for Azikiwe family, Anambra State and Nigeria for the commemoration of the birth of Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe.
She paid tribute to Senator Dr. Ben Ndi Obi for driving the Lecture and appreciated UNIZIK, especially the Faculty of Social Sciences for the consistency of the Zik Lecture Series and urged the Faculty to document and publish the 13 Lectures now in a book for others to read.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Prof. Uche Ebeze appreciated all who turned up for the event and wished them safe journeys back home.
The event which featured cutting of the Zik’s posthumous birthday cake, and award presentations was graced by dignitaries from all walks of life, including the Obi of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe among others.
