The Nigeria Political Science Association (NPSA) says the security challenges and high rate of poverty in the country is price of being insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians for many years.
Prof Hassan Saliu, the National President of NPSA said this in Nsukka on Thursday in a remark during the association’s 12th annual conference held at University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).
The theme of NPSA 12th annual 2025 conference is “Building Sustainable Peace, Security and Development: Challenges and Opportunities”.
Saliu said injustice, insensitivity and lack of inclusiveness are bedrocks
of insecurity and other challenges facing Nigeria.
“It’s unfortunate that under democratic rule, citizens concerns are not the main concerns of democratic actors.
“Poverty has been weaponised to make citizens susceptible to receiving handout from politicians before voting for them during elections.
“Unfortunately as number of years spent in democracy increases so also poverty increases, our country now is paying the price of being insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians for many years,”he said.
The president commended the South East zonal executives led by Prof Gerald Ezirim, from Department of Political Science UNN for organising a good conference given the discouraging circumstances in the country’s current situation, posed to academic ventures of this nature.
” I commend the South East zonal executive committee for their perseverance and dedication in organising this event which centres around critical issues on our nation,”he said.
In a remark the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Aloysius Okolie, the Vice-chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) said the theme of the conference was timely and profound given the fact that South East region and entire country are at crucial juncture because of issues of insecurity, economic disturbance that
challenged our people’s resilience and wisdom of our institutions.
Okolie however said that, in every difficulty hides an opportunity to rebuild trust, reimagine governance and restore the social bonds that unite our communites.
“We should all know that true peace is not merely the absence of conflict, it involves the presence of justice, fairness and opportunity.
“Security is achieved not only through force but also through fairness and inclusion as sustainable development must be people-oriented, participatory and just” he said.
Okolie who until his appointment as VC was a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science UNN said political science as a discipline teaches how to connect ideas with action, research with reforms and governance with accountability.
He noted South East challenges which include economic marginalisation and youth restiveness can not be tackled without sound policy thinking and informed citizenry, this is where the academy must take the lead.
The VC commended Ezirim the South East Chairman of NPSA and his team for sustaining the tradition and reinventing of the seaming waning spirit of NPSA in the region.
Also in a remark Prof Simeon Ortuanya the Vice-chancellor of UNN while declaring the event open commended NPSA for the theme of the conference which he described as apt.
Ortuanya who was represented by the Director of Academic planning in UNN , Prof Anthony Attamah said he had no doubt that galaxy of political scienctists present in the conference would help to find solutions to the country’s numerous problems especially security challenges.
In an address of welcome, the Chairman of NPSA in South East ( Prof Ezirim) said that, South East like several other regions in the country had been plagued by rising insecurity, social tension and economic stagnation which all threatened the social fabric that binds our communities together.
“Our task in this conference is not merely to describe these challenges but to interrogate them critically and to extract from them the lessons and pathways that can lead us to a more peaceful and prosperous future.
“This conference, therefore is not just like another academic exercise but platform for reflection, dialogue and collective problem solving.
“I have no doubt the keynote address, paper presentations and discussions in this conference will open a new window of understanding and offer practical strategies for achieving sustainable peace and development not only in south east but entire country.
The chairman on behalf of the zone expressed gratitude to the national President and entire executive committee for their continuous guidance, encouragement and institutional support.
“We are deeply honoured by your presence in this conference,”Prof Ezirim said.
Our Correspondent reports that keynote address by Dr Joseph Ochogwu, Director, Institute For Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja and lead paper by Dr Chris Ngwodo, Director General, Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience, Abuja received rapt attention from participants.
This was because their presentations were intellectually rich and thought provoking, each of the presentations was punctuated intermittently with cheers and applause by the conference participant’s.
Our reporter also reported that, the conference was well attended by political scienctists in the country.
HRM. Igwe Samuel Asadu, the Traditional Ruler of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Community in Nsukka LGA who is also the Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, the father of the day, was among dignitaries present.