The former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi CON, will on May 2, 2024, deliver the Prince Emeka Obasi Inaugural Memorial Lecture at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, beginning at 10.00 a.m.
Fayemi will speak on “IF THIS GIANT MUST WALK; Manifesto for a New Nigeria”.
A statement by the Chairman, Advisory Board, Business Hallmark Public Policy Forum (PPF), Sir Marc Wabara, said the lecture was organized in honour of the second anniversary of the late founder and publisher of Business Hallmark Newspaper, Prince Emeka Obasi.
On the lecture theme, Sir Marc Wabara stated that our consistent inability to address the failure of the Nigerian state to optimally deploy its abundant manpower and resources to fast track its growth and development after six decades of attaining political independence, as well as an overriding desire to sustain Prince Obasi’s passion for a Nigeria that takes her pride of place in the comity of nations were compelling factors.
“Nigeria should not be under performing the way it is doing right now. However, ignorance and lack of thorough appreciation of issues are some of the problems militating against the rapid development of our country.
“It is our conviction that Nigerians must first of all accept that there is a problem with the country before devising ways of helping her.
“We were therefore inspired to organise this lecture to help sustain our late publisher’s passion for a Nigeria that takes her pride of place in the comity of nations”.
On the choice of Fayemi as the guest speaker, Wabara said the former Ekiti governor and minister of Solid Minerals Development has a lot to share with the public on his success stories in the private and public sectors.
“He has distinguished himself as one of the best public servants the nation has ever produced while at the helm of affairs as Ekiti governor and Minister of Solid Minerals Development.
“Many Nigerians will benefit from his pool of experience”, he added.
After Fayemi’s presentation, a distinguished four man panel made up of Prof. Pat Utomi, founder and CEO of the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL); Prof. Anthony Kila, Director, Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS); Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi, Chairman and Founder, Proshare Nigeria and Senator Shehu Sanni, an author and social activist, will analyse and offer insights on the major themes discussed.
The statement added that former Cross River Governor, His Excellency Donald Duke, will chair the event, while Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, is the Special Guest of Honour.
“This lecture is billed as a Masterclass presentation given the retinue of speakers that have been assembled at the event.
“They represent some of the country’s finest minds with a cerebral disposition to issues and a fine blend of public sector and private leadership experience. It promises to be a worthwhile session.
“This lecture is planned to be a consistent cyclical event”, Chief Wabara added.
The guest lecturer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is the pioneer President of the Forum of Règions of Africa (FORAF) and Visiting Professor at the African Leadership Centre in the School of Global Affairs at King’s College, London.
He served as the governor of Ekiti State from 2010-2014 and 2018-2022 and was the Minister of Mines and Steel Development in the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2015 – 2018).
Prince Emeka Obasi, a veteran journalist and founder of the Hallmark Newspaper Group, was also a PR expert, author and former Commissioner for Information, Abia State.
He passed on to glory on March 15, 2022 at the age of 58 in Lagos and was buried in his country home, Umuaroko, Ndume Ibeku, Umuahia North, Abia State on April 14, 2022.
