The first Obi Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe Annual Lecture Series has been held with a call on Public Relations practitioners to step in and save Nigeria from Nigerians.
ANN reports that the Obi Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe Annual Lecture Series was established as a national lecture series by NIPR at the event held held at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam.
Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe had thirty years international career in Shell BP before he became the Obi of Onitsha and the Chairman Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council.
He is also a Fellow of NIPR with more than five Honourary Doctorate degrees to his name and known to champion the course of youth and women.
The National President of NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku gave seven reasons the association instituted the lecture series to include that the name of Obi Achebe means so much to NIPR in Nigeria, that he is a national icon, a global citizen, a very powerful traditional ruler, statesman and an intellectual among others.
Dr Neliaku also explained that NIPR believes in celebrating icons while they are living and expressed the hope that the lecture series will be sustainable.
The Guest Lecturer and the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti, Most Reverend Felix Ajakaye said the theme of the lecture series,”Traditional Institution, Public Relations and Good Governance in Contemporary Nigeria summed up the yearnings of Nigerians.
The prelate stressed that his presentation is to challenge all to positive and concrete action aimed to make Nigerians better and stronger adding that good governance is the panacea to good living.
The chairman of the day, Chief Bobo Sofiri Brown spoke eloquently about the Obi Achebe and described him as a citizen of the world, a royalty among kingdoms and communities in Nigeria and God’s own handwriting on the wall of Nigeria’s consciousness.
In a vote of thanks, the Chairman Anambra State chapter of NIPR, Prof. Angela Nwamuo thanked God for making the day a reality and disclosed the processes the association went through in the course of organizing the lecture series.
Prof. Nwamuo appreciated Igwe Achebe for not allowing the dream to die and all that contributed to make the event a reality.
Responding, Igwe Achebe expressed his gratitude to NIPR, Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Greg Nwakoby for instituting the lecture series and also emphasised that until the core, social, and moral values of the country is restored, Nigeria will not make progress.
