The third edition of Emeritus Professor Pita Ejiofor Biennial Frontier Lecture has come and gone with a call on the future generation to uphold and nurture lgbo language and culture.
The lecture, organized by the Faculty of Management Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, at the university auditorium, has “Cultural Diplomacy” as its theme.
Declaring the event open, the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Charles Esimone noted that the lecture series, commenced in 2016 to immortalize the name of Professor Ejiofor, who according to him, launched the trajectory of infrastructure development on which the university has continued to ride on.
Professor Esimone applauded successive leadership of the faculty of Management Sciences for instituting and sustaining the biennial lecture series, describing it as a well-deserved honor, in his life-time.
In a keynote address, the Director General, South East Governors Forum, Senator Uche Ekwunife, who spoke on Exploring Regional Diplomacy’s Role in Nigeria’s Southeast: Past, Present and Future, Implications for National Development listed promoting cultural exchange, promoting peace and stability, building Bridges of friendship among others as roles of cultural diplomacy in regional development.
Narrowing it down to the Southeast region, Senator Ekwunife, who identified security concerns, Infrastructure deficit, unemployment and underemployment, poverty and inequality and weak social infrastructure as challenges faced by the region, called for urgent need for specialized development initiatives tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of the region.
Doing justice to the topic “Cultural Diplomacy: Paving the way for National Development, an Ambassador and Plenipotentiary of Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Burundi, Ambassador Elijah Onyeagba, while personally defined diplomacy as the science and arts of making relationships work, announced that Nigeria has one hundred and nine diplomatic missions across the world which according to him are inform of embassies and high commissions.
Ambassador Onyeagba, while also disclosing that Nigeria is hosting one hundred and thirty diplomatic missions, noted that cultural diplomacy can be used to promote mutual understanding between nations, economic interest, build positive international image, address global issues among others.
For the Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Unizik Awka, Professor Pius Okoye, the biennial frontier lecture was birthed as an enduring commitment to honour the doggedness of Emeritus Professor Ejiofor in the university.
While the chairman on the occasion, Chief Tochukwu Metu encouraged future generation to protect their culture from extinction, the daughter of Professor Ejiofor, Dr. Onyinye Ene and the Managing Director, Anambra State Urban Water Asset Corporation, Chief Ikeobi Ejiofor, appreciated organisers of the lecture series and everyone that attended and encourage youths to embrace the virtue of hard work.
The lecture series featured courtesy call on the vice Chancellor, Professor Esimone by the special guests, review of the book, “Visionary of Change”, containing selected works of Professor Ejiofor by the chairman, local planning committee, Professor Ezimma Nnabuife and award presentations.
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