•Academics turn ambassadors
By Chidiebere Onyemaizu
Who says academics are no cultural ambassadors or promoters of cultural heritage? They are! And this could be gleaned from the array of Igbo academics and non- academic staff of the university of Lagos who recently gathered at the Jelili Omotala Hall C of the institution under the aegies of Otu Nnoko UNILAG for the group’s annual thanksgiving and award ceremony.
The organisers said the event aimed at celebrating and promoting the rich Igbo cultural heritage. According to president of Otu Nnoko Unilag, Prof. Friday Nwankwo Ndubuisi, of the university’s department of philosophy, the group is a socio- cultural organisation made up of academic and non academic staff of the university who are of Igbo descent. According to him, the group strives hard to promote Igbo identity in the university as well as help Igbo students to find their bearing in the academic environment.
The convener and patron of Otu Nnoko UNILAG and a retired Professor of Finance at the university, Prof. Wilfred Chifumnanya Eyiegbuniwe (OjibaEze of UbuluOkiti, Delta State), Dr Okwy Okpala, chairman of the organising committee of the event and Dr Carol Anyagwa, a member of the media and publicity committee, spoke in the same vein.
The thanksgiving/ award ceremony which also attracted non Igbo academics, including Unilag Registrar, Mrs Olakunle Esther Mankind, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa (Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC), Development Services and many others who came to identify with their Igbo counterparts, featured award presentations and recognition of inaugural lecturers for 2023/2024 academic session, award of honour to distinguished personalities and launching of intervention fund to promote the study of Igbo Igbo language in the University.
Among prominent distinguished personalities who were bestowed with the Otu Nnoko award in recognition of their exceptional entrepreneurial skills and contributions to the growth of the Nigerian economy include chairman/CEO of Young Shall Grow motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo, who was represented by the Public relations manager, Mr Amobi Amako, and the chairman/ CEO of Chisco Transport Group, Chief (Dr) Chidi Anyaegbu, represented by his son, Mr Obinna Anyaegbu.
Anyaegbu was specifically recognized for his contributions to education through the Chisco Educational Foundation.
Both billionaire Igbo industrialists, speaking through their representatives, pledged unwavering support to Otu Nnoko UNILAG and its philosophy.
Inaugural lecturers that received awards include Prof. Ndubuisi, Prof Iwu Ikwubueze, Prof. Emma Anyika and Prof. Dona Umesie
Earlier in his welcome address, Prof. Ndubuisi expressed delight that some members of Otu Nnoko distinguished themselves in the university in the passing years thus earning for themselves, promotions and in the process made the group proud.
“Let me say that the university management has been nice to Igbo academics and non academic staff as many of them got promoted to their next cadres, we are very proud of them”, the president of Otu Nnoko said.
He extolled the sterling qualities of the chief host and deputy vice chancellor (management services) of the university, Prof. L.O Chukwu “for making Ndigbo and Otu Nnoko proud),” describing him as a good ambassador of the Igbo in UNILAG.
“Our main agenda is to promote the Igbo identity, the Igbo language and Igbo culture in the University of Lagos. Otu Nnoko also strives to help our students, guide them and lead them to the right path so that they don’t run foul of the university’s rules and regulations.
“We help them not to deviate from their mission in the University of Lagos; we equally help them to focus on their studies.We also assist our members in various ways, including assisting pursue what brought them to the University of Lagos. We try as much as possible to bring our people together in the University of Lagos inorder to be effective in the university community”, Professor Ndubuisi said.
In his speech, Prof. Chukwu who spoke mainly in Igbo language commended Otu Nnoko for its foresight and the university management, particularly the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, for their support. He explained that except for the exingencies of her office which took her out of the country, the VC “would have been here to identify with us”.
On his part, Prof. Iyiegbuniwe said Otu Nnoko would never relent in promoting Igbo identity in UNILAG.
“The mandate of Otu Nnoko is mainly to the members, we cater to members. If a member has a challenge, we rally around the member which is the hallmark of Igbo people.
“When one person has an issue, like ants will do, the brothers and sisters rally round such person and that person will not suffer. In fact, there was an unfortunate incident where a professor who just retired died and as an association, Otu Nnoko rallied round the family, because as a social association, our role is to uphold the Igbo culture, protect and support our members.
“We are proud to be Igbo. If you like you can harass me but I will not deny my identity. And by the grace of God, every year, this gathering will happen.
“There is a saying in my place, ‘a child does not deny his parents’. When you deny your identity, you amount to nothing, no matter what the situation is. If we can do it in Unilag, academics and no academic staff of Igbo descent in other universities can do it too”