UNN Alumni, Asaba branch, organizes 2024 Human Dignity Lecture Day Celebration, award presentation
By Magnus Emuji
The University of Nigeria Alumni Association, Asaba Branch has organized a human dignity day lecture and award presentation to deserving individuals for their contributions towards the growth and development of the society, with a call to all stakeholders to uphold the essence of dignity in every facet of human activities.
The Branch President of the Association, Dr. Kenneth Jowe-Asidi, who made the call in Asaba, said that the Human Dignity Lecture Day/Award Presentation was a day set aside by the branch to re-echo the motto of their alma mater.
He said that the erosion of human dignity in Nigeria has resulted in several social vices such as impunity, corruption, recklessness, dishonesty and moral decadence in the society, stressing that a man of dignity was a man who was focused, diligent, forthright, trusted and result-oriented.
Jowe-Asidi noted that the branch, in her quest to drive the campaign for the restoration of human dignity in Nigeria, decided to organize the lecture with the theme: Human Dignity as a Panacea for Socioeconomic Development of Nigeria.
He urged awardees to sustain the unique attributes in them which, according to him, were considered for honouring them and continue to be good ambassadors of the Institution, just as he commended them for their unwavering commitment and contributions to their alma mater.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Festus Okubor, who is the Chief Strategist to Delta State Governor, observed that Nigeria was confronted with issues that require socioeconomic solutions.
He asserted that the key to sustainable development depended not only on policy articulation and formulation, but the interest of human dignity of citizens of the country, stressing the need for people to explore ways of integrating human dignity into their social lives.
In his lecture presentation, the Guest Speaker, Prof. Pius Ike noted that human dignity justified human rights, emphasizing that the violation of human dignity implied any act that would reduce the value of human dignity.
Prof. Ike listed unemployment and poverty among the factors militating against the socioeconomic development of Nigeria and advocated the need for people to embrace entrepreneurship education, maximize opportunities in agriculture, embrace digital technology and adhere to transformational leadership in a bid to address socioeconomic problems in the country.
Speaking with journalists, one of the awardees, Chief Chukwuemeka Chukwurah, the Principal of Asagba Mixed Secondary School, Issele-Asagba, Comr. Godson Opone and the Vice President of Asaba Branch of UNAA, Dr. (Mrs.) Joyce Ogu, a Deputy Director in the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education who were both members of the branch, expressed joy that the ceremony was successful and promised to continue to promote their alma mater.
Chief Chukwurah specifically stated that the award of environmental advocacy on him was commendable and called on every individual to brace up for the restoration of the ecosystems to what it used to be before climate change came even as he maintained that there was need to move from brown energy to green energy.
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Dr. (Mrs.) Obiageli Helen Jowe-Asidi stated that as part of the celebration, the UNAA commenced the activities with quiz competition for secondary school students at Government Model Secondary School, Asaba and a visit to Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba to plant trees and appreciated all members of the Association for their unwavering commitment and collective efforts towards the success of the ceremony.
Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of award to distinguished personalities including a posthumous award to one time Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Late Prof. Frank Ndili, the Delta State Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Reginald Bayoko, mni, Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, Engr. Chief Chukwuemeka Chukwurah, the State Accountant -General, Lady Joy Enwa, Mr. Stephen Moeteke and Bishop Chuka Agwuegbo as well as posthumous award to Late Chief Ernest Okeke among others.
