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By Maduabuchi Dukor
On November 20, 2025, the usually quiet halls of Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s Department of Philosophy, stirred with an unusual kind of energy, one part scholarly, one part cultural, and entirely philosophical. It was a World Philosophy Day at UNESCO at ESSENCE LIBRARY at Philosophy Department at UNIZIK. World Philosophy Day, a UNESCO-backed global observance dedicated to dialogue and the pursuit of wisdom, found a vibrant and deeply African expression at ESSENCE Library, a UNESCO-recognized cultural and scientific development center at UNIZIK. This was not merely an academic event. It was a moment of reflection for a nation in trouble, a continent in search of renewal, and a world grappling with unpredictability. What emerged was a powerful narrative: philosophy remains humanity’s oldest, and perhaps strongest, tool for confronting uncertainty.
World Philosophy Day was established by UNESCO in 2002 to remind the world of the enduring relevance of philosophical inquiry. Each year, the day brings together scholars, educators, policymakers, and cultural actors to explore ideas that shape human existence. It’s a global tradition meets local voice. At UNIZIK, the celebration has taken on a distinct character over the years. Driven by its flagship journal ESSENCE: Interdisciplinary–International Journal of Concerned African Philosophers, the ESSENCE Library has built one of the continent’s longest-standing spaces for African philosophical debate. “UNIZIK’s celebration is our local contribution to a global conversation,” explained a member of the organizing committee. “We are connecting African wisdom traditions with global philosophical currents.” With official recognition from NATCOM-UNESCO.
The center has steadily grown into a hub for intercultural understanding, ethical dialogue, and the promotion of intellectual diversity. The 2025 event unfolded across digital and physical spaces. In what participants jokingly called “a summit on the mountain of WhatsApp,” scholars toggled between platforms: some connected through Zoom, others joined in person, while many tuned in via WhatsApp. The hybridity reflected the spirit of the age, fast-paced, multitasked, and fragmented, yet united in inquiry. The newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie was the chief host. The Founder, President/Editor-in-chief, Essence Library, Professor Maduabuchi Dukor was the chairman of the occasion. The Day’s orator, Dr. Austin Itoh, served as moderator, voice-of-reason, and chief noise controller as devices pinged, notifications buzzed, and intellectual excitement filled the virtual space. “It was chaos at times,” one participant recalled, “but it was the chaos of ideas; beautiful, vibrant, disruptive.” Eventually, Dr. Itoh introduced the keynote speaker: Professor M. O. Ikeke of Delta State University, Abraka, a seasoned philosopher known for blending indigenous African thought with global ethical discourse.
Confronting uncertainty, Ikeke’s philosophical autopsy of the Nigerian condition through the lens of “Critical Thinking, Moral Judgment, and Responsible Decision-Making Amid the Uncertainties of Our Shared Future”, reflected the global theme: Living in an Uncertain World. With the imagery of a vigilant bird perched upon an iroko tree, Ikeke painted a vivid picture of Nigeria’s socio-political landscape. Corruption, leadership failures, ethnic tension, religious extremism, insecurity, and civic decay were presented not simply as political issues, but as deep moral, existential, and metaphysical dilemmas. “These problems,” Ikeke argued, “are resistant to simple fixes. They demand intellectual honesty, truth-telling, and dialogical reasoning.” His audience nodded knowingly. Nigeria’s crises have become so ubiquitous that despair hangs thickly in public discourse. Yet, Ikeke insisted that philosophy offers tools; rational inquiry, ethical reflection, communal dialogue, that can help societies navigate uncertainty without collapsing into cynicism.
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Philosophers speak truth to power in a nation in crisis as the subsequent discussion drew contributions from philosophers across the country. They did not mince words. Nigeria, they agreed, has drifted into amoral territory Thomas Hobbes once described as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” In many regions, citizens fend for themselves amid insecurity, banditry, and ineffective governance, a near Hobbesian state of nature. Participants highlighted how: elite -centered politics has replaced genuine public service, constitutional fractures have weakened social cohesion, rent-seeking governance has hollowed out institutions, religious bigotry and ethnic suspicion have eroded shared identity and youth disenchantment is rising amid economic hopelessness.“Lawlessness now walks with its chest out,” one discussant lamented. “And the rule of law hides in the shadows.” But amid the critique, there was hope. Philosophers insisted that societies can heal, if they reclaim the virtues of critical thinking, moral judgment, and responsible decision-making.
Across continents and centuries, the group drew wisdom on ethics of leadership from classical philosophy. Socrates’ devotion to truth was invoked as a model for moral courage. Plato’s philosopher-king, rooted in wisdom and justice rather than selfish ambition, was set against Nigeria’s “politician-turned-big-man culture”. Aristotle’s reminder that “happiness depends upon ourselves” became a call for personal responsibility. Marcus Aurelius’ reassurance; “You have power over your mind, not outside events”, offered grounding for citizens overwhelmed by national turmoil. Epictetus’ insight that “we are disturbed not by events, but by our judgments about them” reinforced the need for rational governance. Seneca’s view of power as service echoed as a moral indictment of contemporary leadership. From the lens of Eastern and African wisdom, the reflection was inter-culturally diversified. Confucius’ caution that learning without reflection is dangerous struck a chord in a country where education often prioritizes certificates over critical thinking. Gandhi’s injunction to “be the change you wish to see in the world” resonated as a call for civic renewal. Several participants also referenced African philosophical traditions, including Ubuntu’s insistence that “a person is a person through other persons.” Nigerian philosophers emphasized that the country’s multicultural identity could be a strength,if grounded in justice and shared moral vision.
Beyond the day’s heavy themes, the event highlighted the enduring relevance of ESSENCE Library as a beacon of renewal. More than a building, the center is a cultural and intellectual sanctuary, a place where ideas meet, cultures converse, and worldviews collide productively. Its mission to promote intercultural understanding, ethical innovation, and global citizenship, has never been more urgent. “At ESSENCE Library, philosophy is not abstract,” one faculty member said. “It is a living tool for healing our society. Through its journals, seminars, conferences, and community engagements, the center continues to bridge African, Eastern, and Western thought systems. It encourages young scholars to explore identity, justice, and the future of humanity through the lens of critical inquiry.
As the event drew to a close, a quiet consensus emerged: philosophy is not an elitist pastime. It is a civic duty, especially in a nation and world wrestling with uncertainty. World Philosophy Day at UNIZIK stood as a reminder that: Societies must think before they act; Leaders must serve before they rule; Citizens must reflect before they judge; Cultures must dialogue before they divide. In a time marked by fear, insecurity, and moral confusion, the philosophers at ESSENCE Library demonstrated that wisdom remains humanity’s most reliable compass. As one participant put it:“When the future is uncertain, philosophy is the torch that helps us see the path.”
•Prof. Dukor is Founder/President of/Editor-in-Chief of ESSENCE LIBRARY (Cultural and Scientific Development Centre), UNIZIK.
