Achebe Annual Lecture Holds, Next Year

No fewer than 15 countries are expected to be represented at the maiden International Conference and Inauguration of Prof Chinua Achebe Annual Lecture series next year.

The one-week conference, organised by the Faculty of Arts of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), will hold between January 30 and February  3, 2012 at the university.

The Dean of the faculty, Prof Edwin Okafor, said this on Tuesday in Enugu while briefing reporters.

The theme of the inauguration and conference is: “Emergent Issues in Humanities in Africa in the Third Millennium. “

Okafor said that the university decided to inaugurate the annual lecture series to honour Achebe for his scholarly contribution to the growth of the university.

According to him, Achebe, an Emeritus Professor of English, served Nigeria in various capacities.

“He has served this nation at various capacities crowning these services with his scholarly inputs at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

“He is a proud Igbo man that has, in his writings, projected Igbo minds, Igbo cosmology, Igbo traditions, Igbo social and political order more than any other person.

“We have received responses from over 15 countries – Africa, Europe, and America, even Asia. Then all Nigerian universities.’’

Okafor said that Achebe had agreed to participate in the conference expected to be declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said that many people, including Jonathan, governors of Enugu, Anambra and Abia States, some other notable Nigerians and foreigners, would be honoured in the course of the event.

Notable authors such as Prof Wole Soyinka, Prof Nwando Achebe, Chimamanda Adichie, are expected to present lectures at the conference.

As part of activities lined up for the event, excursions to tourist sites in the South East zone have been scheduled.

Okafor appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, institutions and corporate organisations to support the event to ensure success.