On Friday, November 15, Chief Osita Chidoka, the former Aviation Minister, will give the third annual memorial lecture by Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
This was disclosed in a news release provided to media by Aliyu Jalal, the Media Adviser for the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership.
Chief Osita Chidoka, OFR, NPOM, the Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, will present this year’s Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Annual Memorial Lecture on the subject of “Harnessing the Power of Education for National Transformation: Lessons from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s Vision,” according to the statement.
The lecture will be held at the recently refurbished ETF Auditorium on the Igbariam Campus of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
Prominent attendees at this year’s lecture will include the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, the widow of Chief Ojukwu; the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; former Minister Labaran Maku, who will be the Special Guest of Honor; and Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, who will act as the Chief Host.
“The dim Dedicated to upholding Ojukwu’s legacy of bravery, patriotism, and visionary leadership, the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Lecture was established in 2018 as an academic venue.
In previous lectures, distinguished speakers including Professors Anselm Odinkalu and Kingsley Moghalu have participated in significant public discussions on crucial national issues.
This third edition is expected to be particularly important because it coincides with a period of high national anxiety, economic hardship, and growing insecurity.
The chairman of the Ojukwu Memorial Lecture Committee, Prof. Nnamdi Obikeze, has stated that “This third edition promises an even more exciting and academically enriching experience as Chief Osita Chidoka, OFR, NPOM (Ike Obosi) prepares to light up the newly renovated ETF Auditorium of the University with words of wisdom in honor and celebration of one of the greatest sons of Ndi Igbo.”
Former FRSC Corps Marshal and Aviation Minister Chief Chidoka is well acclaimed for his dedication to youth development through the Mekaria Mentorship Program, Nigeria’s largest youth mentorship program, and his excellent public service.
In 2024, he established the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, which he still uses to promote evidence-based policy and national discourse. Renowned for his commitment to social and educational change, Chidoka’s perspectives are especially well-suited to tackle the issues confronting Nigeria today and to lay forth a plan for resilience and national rebirth.
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With the help of Chief Chidoka’s insights, this year’s Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Annual Memorial Lecture seeks to advance education as a tool for national rebirth while honoring Ojukwu’s legacy of bravery, vision, and commitment to the Nigerian people.
After considering this honor, Chidoka said, “I am humbled by the university’s decision to offer me this opportunity to stand on the shoulders of a great Nigerian and celebrated Igbo son, to address the pressing challenges within our educational sector and inspire a renewed commitment to national transformation through the power of knowledge and resilient leadership.”
This lecture is a valuable forum for solutions-focused discussion aimed at promoting education as a driver of resilience and national advancement, and the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership is pleased to support it.
