Eminent Nigerians, scholars, including the former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran and Prof. Bolanle Awe, will tomorrow, Monday, gather to dissect one of the latest books written by poet and gubernatorial aspirant in Edo State, Odia Ofeimun.
Scheduled to be held at the University of Ibadan’s International Conference Centre, Aganga Hall, the event, said the school, will take off by 2pm.
The book, entitled ‘Taking Nigeria Seriously’, a 679-page effort of the author, a compendium of analyses of issues of contemporary society that have the tendencies of limiting the nation’s growth and representation among the comity of nations, will be read by Ofeimun.
The critical dissection of the book, put together by the Readers’ Club of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy, (ISGPP) according to the school, is its maiden effort at contributing to the knowledge industry in Nigeria.
The book reading will also have in attendance members of the Club, which include the former Dean of Post Graduate School, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olabode Lucas; Prof. M.K Yahaya; Prof. Adesola Ogunniyi; eminent education scholar, Prof. Pai Obaiya; Lead City University founder, Prof. Jide Owoeye; Prof. Remi Raji-Oyelade; Bookcraft Publishers’ Mr. Bankole Olayebi; newspaper columnist and professor, Ayo Olukotun; Dr. Stephen Lawani, among others.
According to the author, Ofeimun, it is certain that even in the midst of her challenges and problems of existence, many Nigerians would wish that their country is taken seriously.
“Not just for the sake of a continent whose leaders may not be invited to world summits where far-reaching decisions that affect their people are taken, nor for any super power ambitions. The argument is straightforward: Nigeria needs to be taken seriously, first by her unionized nationalities and ethnic fractions whose struggle to catch up with, halt or destroy the advantages of the other have roped themselves into a tragic bind from which they seem to be waiting for or drifting into a second colonialism,” he said.
