OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY'S (OAU) CETENARY DIALOGUE

A special Obafemi Awolowo Foundation Dialogue is being jointly organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. This is intended to be a dialogue involving the Nigerian youth and the generation of their parents and it is entitled: “The Awolowo legacy and the youth.A statement by Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu said the dialogue would take place in the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on July 21 and July 22, 2009, adding it was intended to encourage an open discussion of the Awo legacy in all its ramifications and its enduring relevance as a potent strategy for addressing the problems of Nigeria’s underdevelopment.


Following two agenda-setting keynote addresses, presentations are structured to examine the philosophical underpinning of the Awo legacy, strengths, challenges and achievements from the past, present efforts, to move the development agenda forward and, finally, a prescription of feasible strategies to move the vision into the future, in the light of current and predicted national and global challenges and opportunities.

The keynote addresses will be presented by elder statesman and key member of Chief Awolowo’s legendary cabinet in the defunct Western Region, Chief Anthony Enahoro, who will speak on “The making of a legacy,” and a young scholar, Dr. Wale Adebanwi, who will speak on “The future of the legacy: Challenges and opportunities.” This will be immediately followed by a Governors’ Roundtable on the theme, “Sustaining the Legacy.”

The second and third plenary sessions will each be led by Nigerians, who understand the problems and the final session will be a youth forum entitled, “Towards a brighter tomorrow,” and will be led by undergraduates from five universities, whose analyses will reflect their own generation’s perception, awareness and hopes.


An award ceremony to honour some of those who have contributed immeasurably to the founding and development of Obafemi Awolowo University, an institution which is a quintessential legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is also part of the programme.