Unizik: Africans tasked to re-vitalize values as Faculty of Arts conference ends

www.odogwublog.com informs that emphasis has again been laid on the urgent need for Africans to
re-vitalize African values at the 2015 Annual International Conference of the Faculty of Arts recently. The theme of the Conference was titled “Humanities and African Values”.

Speaking during his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Fidelis Okafor, who was represented by the University’s (DVC) Igbariam Campus, Prof. Sylvester Madu said he was happy to be part of the Annual Conference, which he said, was one of the core parts of University activities, because it entails the exchange of intellectual ideas. The theme of the Conference, he said, was timely. Scholars have come together to brain storm on ways to re-establish ways to bring back African values. He advised students who were present to pay attention to the lecturers who would speak on the theme, so that they can go home with something that would better their lives. He expressed hope that the Conference outcome would yield positive results, going by the caliber of scholars invited. Finally, he thanked the organizers of the Conference for a job well done.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph. E. Ahaneku, FAS who was represented by the Acting DVC (Administration) Prof. Innocent Onyeyili, thanked God for the Conference which brought great scholars from different parts of the country and outside to deliberate on the way forward about African values. He thanked the Faculty for keying into the vision of the VC whose main focus centres on research.

He said that the theme of the Conference is very apt, because African values are dwindling, and there is need to re-awaken the Igbo Culture.

In his welcome address, the Dean of the Faculty, Rev. Fr. Prof. B.A.C. Obiefuna thanked all for attending the Conference. He said it was an annual event that focuses on issues affecting the human person in relation to other human persons and their environment.
While speaking on African values, he said Africans cherish family, economic, political, religious, health values, and values inherent in socialization process. They communicate values through stories, folklores, proverbs, paintings and drama. Furthermore, he said that the influence of the West appears to be dealing heavily on African values, as the impact appears to be negative. The situation, he continued, constitutes serious worry for the African mind, because the destruction of values and value system is the destruction of the people. He concluded by saying that the objective of the 2015 Annual International Conference is to re-vitalize African values.

In his lecture, the Keynote Speaker, Prof. Emeka Nwabueze spoke on humanity in connection with African values. According to him, humanity entails moral values. Those who are charged with the declaration of law and justice should be those who are into humanities because humanity constitutes the art, and art constitutes life, which is guided by moral; hence humanity is the art values of being human. Our moral values should guide our thoughts and actions. He also spoke on the methods of understanding humanities, the evolution in the African Art, the growth of African literature and the contributing issues to the growth of African Language.

The lead paper presenter, Prof. Chimalum Nwankwo who is a Professor of Word Literature, Nigerian-Turkish Nile University  Abuja spoke on effectiveness in poetic communication which could ignite feeling, (whether positive or negative)emotion.

He drove home his point by showing a video of a Nigerian Musician (Flavour) who was welcomed in Cameroun with so much emotion. He emphasized on the influence of the West on African values, while harping on the need for lecturers to be conscious of what they pass on to students as they mould their behaviour and attitude. He said they must be mindful of the teachings that touch on our African values.

In his vote of thanks, the Chairman, Local Organizing Committee, Rev. Fr. Dr. Emmanuel Umezinwa, thanked the present administration for being part of the Faculty Conference. He thanked the Dean for his support so far, and his fellow organizers for their effort in making the event a reality. He also thanked those who attended the Conference, especially the lecturers and others from outside the University. He prayed for God’s guidance as they go back to their various destinations.