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From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has urged Nigerian professors to shift from passive teaching to active developmental intellectualism to impact public policy and societal transformation.
Soludo gave the charge in Nsukka on Tuesday while delivering the 6th Biennial Adada Lecture Series organised by the Association of Nsukka Professors (ANP).
The lecture is titled; “Our Future in Our Past: Intellectualism and the Making of African Renaissance.”
Soludo said that the wealth of knowledge of professors and other academics within the country’s universities is enough to impact public policy and solve societal problems.
“Academics should shift from purely theoretical frameworks to active developmental intellectualism to bridge the gap between abstract knowledge and real-world impact.
“This will ensure academic achievement translates into tangible societal progress and community development.
“The wealth of knowledge within university walls must be harnessed to directly translate into public policy and societal transformation.
“If you have 200 professors as members, why is the Nsukka zone not a first world,” he asked.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor asserted that intellectualism without activism is sterile and that the hunger for deep knowledge in contemporary society has hit an alarming low.
According to him, an intellectual must be a multi-tasker who combines rigorous research with a sense of personal responsibility within his/her environment.
He advocated for “sacrificial volunteerism,” urging professors to take initiative in solving collective problems regardless of institutional constraints,
The governor said sensitive issues like state creation, marginalization and the Biafra agitation lacking extensive academic research remains a missed opportunity for intellectual leadership.
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He reiterated his firm belief that the interests of the Igbo people would be best served within a united functional Nigeria.
“Intellectuals must be the ones to lead this conversation, crafting the sustainable solutions required to move the region and the nation forward,” he said.
The former CBN Governor warned against intellectuals “standing akimbo” or remaining indifferent to the country’s trajectory, as the Governor reminded the audience that talent is insufficient without active participation and that the cost of intellectual silence will be too expensive for the continent to bear.’
Soludo commended ANP for sustaining its lecture as well as finding him worthy to deliver the 6th edition.
In a remark, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Simon Ortuanya, described the Governor’s visit as a homecoming.
Ortuanya stated the governor’s numerous contributions to the country and humanity.
Speaking, Prof Palinus Ugwuoke, the Chairman of the Association of Nsukka Professors commended Gov Soludo for honouring the invitation of the association to deliver the 6th Adada lecture in spite of his tight schedules.
“As a graduate and former Lecturer in the Department of Economics at UNN, your presence here today is more of a homecoming,” he said.
Ugwuoke said from the lecture, professors were now more determined to contribute more to the development of the Nsukka zone, Enugu State and Nigeria in general.
He however, identified marginalisation of the South East as part of set-back in the development of Nsukka cultural zone.
“Whether Nigerians believe it or not people from South East geopolitical zone are marginalised, while other zones in the country have six or seven states, the South East has only five states,” he said.
On agitation for the creation of Adada State, the ANP Chairman said the struggle would continue despite the fact that it had been decades since the agitation and struggle started, as Nsukka Province remained the only colonial province yet to be upgraded to a state in the country,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that Prof Osita Ogbu, former Economic Adviser to Ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo was the chairman of the occasion while Sen.Chukwuka Utazi, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District in the 9th Senate was the Keynote Speaker.
