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From Joe Obukata Ogbodu, Warri
Moves by Igbo-speaking people of Nigeria to have a uniform movement have intensified as erudite professors Timothy Nwala, Patrick Utomi and others will, this weekend, brainstorm in Asaba, Delta State.
The event, with the theme, “Igbo-Bu-Ofu,” which will be held in Asaba metropolis on Friday and Saturday is being organised by the “Igbo Unification Movement,’ in collaboration with ‘Ndi N’asu Bia Socio-Cultural Organisation.”
In a statement by Chief Cosmas Agada, chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), and Kingsley Kainebi, coordinator, said: “Through this conference tagged, ‘Ogbako-Igbo Zara Igbo (gathering of all those who are called Igbo),’ we want to make our diverse people, especially those who are having identity crisis, to understand that we are one people.”
According to him, “We are expecting Igbo people from 13 states of Nigeria. The keynote speakers and guest speakers were chosen based on the zeal and patriotism they have displayed in Igbo matters.” Professor Nwala, the keynote speaker, is renowned as father of Contemporary African Philosophy and the first Nigerian graduate in philosophy from an indigenous university. The African Philosophy courses he developed later were adopted in the curricula of many universities in Africa and the United States of America. He is the author of the book, Igbo Philosophy.
Prof Utomi, a guest speaker, is a Nigerian professor of political economy and management expert, a native of Igbuzo in Oshimili North LGA of Delta State.
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Other guest speakers include Prof Obasi Igwe, a renowned professor of political science who hails from Ohafia LGA, Abia State; and Florence Orabueze, a Nigerian poet, writer and professor of English and Literary Studies. Orabueze was a former director of the Institute of African Studies of the institution.
Prof Paul Opone, a historian specialising in inter-group relation and conflict resolution, is a senior lecturer at the Delta State University, Abraka.
Dr Chidi Osuagwu is of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria, and post graduate studies in Medicinal Chemistry, University of Houston, USA.
Chinedu Enweoye is a professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Management at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State. The speakers would be handling various topics geared towards the realisation of Igbo unification, said Agada and Kainebi
The organisers expressed hope that after the gathering, the issue of identity crisis among various Igbo subgroups and dialectical groups would become a thing of the past.
They appealed to all Igbo-speaking people of Nigeria to keenly participate in the conference, which they described as the first of its kind.
