Uzodimma Tasks UNN On Eni Njoku Lecture Series

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has challenged the authorities of University of Nigeria, Nsukka to put to good use the outcome of the Prof. Eni Njoku lecture series.

He said they could reduce each of the lecture series to a policy formulation suggestion which would then be sent to federal and state governments for possible implementation.

The governor made the recommendation yesterday when he presided over the 15th edition of the lecture series with the topic – Science and Technology as Allies with Good Governance in Wealth Creation and Poverty Reduction.

Represented by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, the governor said it was a waste of time and resources if the outcome of the lecture series is not put to practical use.

According to him, based on the importance the world attaches to research, it was incumbent on academics to push the frontiers of knowledge through implementation of policies initiated through such fora as the Eni Njoku lecture series.

He regretted that the thought provoking lecture he delivered during the 14th edition of the lecture series was not followed up by the Igbo intelligentsia.

Governor Uzodimma insisted that it was the work of the academia to recommend policies to government for the overall good of the society.

He said good governance can only create wealth and lead to poverty reduction when the academia apply Science and Technology to good use.

He therefore challenged the authorities of University of Nigeria, Nsukka to ensure that the outcome of the lecture series is put at the domain of government for possible implementation.

His words: “We need our academics to draw up a roadmap for the realization of policy initiatives be it in politics or the economy or even in security for us to make the much needed progress in wealth creation and poverty reduction.”

The Governor, however, expressed gratitude to the organizers of the lecture series for finding him worthy to be the Chairman of the 15th edition after being the guest lecturer in the 14th edition.

He pledged to continue to support all efforts aimed at sustaining the legacies of late Prof Eni Njoku whom he described as a “Nigerian academic prodigy.”

Uzodimma also extolled the choice of this year’s lecturer in the person of Prof Chinedu Nebo, saying he was one of the finest academics produced by Nigeria.