Prof Oguejiofo Ujam, the Acting Vice-chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) says the valedictory lecture that marks the retirement of professors of the university is reserved for professors with outstanding academic performance.
Ujam said this in Nsukka on Thursday in a remark during the 10th valedictory lecture delivered by Prof Peter-Jazz Ezeh of Department of Sociology and Anthropology that marked his 70 years and retirement from civil service.
He said the university screen and screen thoroughly of retiring professors before they were approved by management to deliver valedictory lecture of the university.
“Since 1960 UNN was established Ezeh is the 10th person and the first from Faculty of Social Sciences to deliver this lecture.
“The inaugural lecture of the university has been delivered by over 200 professors but in valedictory lecture Ezeh is the 10th retiring professor to deliver this prestigious lecture.
“On behalf of the university management I congratulate Ezeh for this landmark academic achievement and wish him more successes having served his fatherland’s meritoriously,” he said.
The VC who was represented by Prof Kamoru Usman , acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics commended Prof Chidi Nzeadibe the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences for his numerous achievements since he assumed office as dean of the faculty.
“The management is happy with your performance, in bringing Human Race Foundation to donate solar energy light to your faculty.
Attracting Chairman of Nsukka LG Chief Chinedu Asogwa, Prof Charles Soludo the Governor of Anambra State to deliver lectures on ethical leadership among other many of your achievements.
“Today the faculty under your leadership has produced the first professor to deliver the prestigeous valedictory lecture of UNN.
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“We want other deans of faculties in UNN to follow your footsteps in terms of good leadership and quality achievements,” the VC said.
Delivering the 10th valedictory lecture titled “Researching Human Sociality in these post-truth days” Eze described human sociality as activities or ideas that human groups use as members of the society
He described post-truth as emplying emotions and belief to get members of an audience to accept a narrative or claim.
“In post-truth objective facts are undervalued, if considered at all , manipulation of fears and unmet aspirations of members of the target group is all that is important.
“In our days and from time farther back than ours it’s clear that evidence-driven knowledge knows no boundaries among groups, and is usually harmless.
“But subjective knowledge tend to to be self-serving and is for that reason usually exposed for what it’s, and does not survive for a long time,”he said.
He urged people to avoid ethnocentrism in which a particular group believe their ways of doing things are the best and other groups need to aspire to it as well as avoid xenomania which is inordinate liking to foreign things.
The professor of sociology and anthropology disclosed that evidence based research had revealed that gbo language as one of the best language in the world because it’s gender neutral.
“Feminist elsewhere in the world are just waking up to the sort of grammatical gender equity that Igbo have always known,”he said.
Prof Ezeh expressed appreciation to UNN management, the faculty of Social Sciences, the department Sociology and Anthropology, his family members, members of his planning committee as well as others who contributed in one way or the other to ensure the success of his valedictory lecture.
Highlightss of the event were presentation of a book written by Ezeh’s committee of friends led by Prof Chidi Ugwu , titled “Celebrating an Ijele: A Festschrift in Honour of Peter-Jazzy Ezeh
And presentation of Certificate of Valedictory Lecture to Ezeh by the VC
Prof Benjamin Ozumba, the former VC of UNN who is the 9th valedictory lecturer of UNN, Prof Uche Azikwe, the wilfe of late Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, the first President of Nigeria were among dignitaries present during the event.
Our correspondent reports that, the event was well attended by staff and students of UNN as well as people from different walks of life