Ifeanyi Ezugwu, Enugu
The guest lecturer at the University of Nigeria, UNN, 53rd founders’ day lecturer, Ambassador Humphrey Orjiako, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to United Nation, Geneva yesterday at the Princess Alexandra Unity hall, University main campus, Nsukka, posited that the task of development, achieving freedom, restoring and sustaining the dignity of man will remain incomplete, even unattainable, unless the freedom and dignity that we seek for man are simultaneously and inseparably linked with the freedom and dignity of the woman.
Ambassador Orjiako said thus:”there is one first thing that is missing in the list of pride. You can forgive me if I say this with so much passion-it is probably because I come from that branch of the United Nations system whose organs and instruments have patented ceaseless advocacy on the issue I am about to reveal. The university should think of appointing a woman VC in the list of pride. This is not just a matter of gender sensitivity;it is an issue in development, in freedom and dignity. The University of Nigeria, is a trail blazer, a daring pioneer in many directions and cannot afford to be left too far behind to be one of the last among the premier universities to appoint a lady of merit to the Vice Chancellorship of this great institution. This is my advocacy,that the roll call of honour of this hallowed place should feature a woman”.
“I urge the Lions and Lioness to draw upon the courage, vision and mission of the founders, led by the indomitable Zik of Africa; and to tap from the spirit of innovation, resourcefulness and resolute pursuit of excellence of the present management led the brilliant and redoubtable Prof. Bartho Okolo. These will ensure that we, members of the UNN family, will keep the dream alive and live up to the proclamations of our Alma Mater’s pledge and the promise of the university song-a university that is great in science and in arts, sublime in other realms of learning,seeking, teaching and preserving the truth,thereby restoring the dignity of man”.
Earlier in his remark, the Vice Chancellor,UNN, Prof. Bartho Okolo, revealed that the topic of this years lecture,”Higher education in Nigeria-the Nsukka experience, 53 years after” is both pertinent and timely.
“The university of my vision is a functional, globally competitive and research-focused university, which is responsive to the needs of society and delivers world-class education and knowledge” UNN VC declared.
