National Executives of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) were guests of the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services, Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa who received the delegation on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor adjudged the university’s unwavering support for the academy as a display of its commitment towards fostering collaborations and promoting knowledge.
Prof Atesuwa challenged the Nigerian Academy of Letters to look into re-defining and re-shaping African history especially the epistemology of her languages, indigenous religion and cultural values devoid of colonial colorations.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor specially applauded the Nigerian Academy of Letters for its inputs in shaping and documenting national history. She challenged the delegates to use their annual gathering as a platform to provide further insights into ways to promote Africa, over and above the sentiments and negative impacts of colonization.
This, according to Prof. Atsenuwa, will help to reveal the true identity and ensure proper contextualization of the African continent.
Led by the National President of the Academy who is also a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services and Gold- Medalist of the University of Lagos, Professor Duro Oni, the delegation was on the courtesy visit to, among other things, acknowledge and appreciate the university for its constant open arms, for being the host of the academy’s liaison office over the years, and for the generous support towards the Academy’s 25th Annual Convocation, Lecture and Investiture of new members slated to hold on Thursday, August 10, 2023 in the University of Lagos.
The event will feature the investiture of 10 new Fellows while 52 new members who joined the academy at the last convocation which held on August 11, 2022 will be inducted.
The theme for the 25th Annual Convocation of the Academy is: Inter-ethnic and Intra-ethnic Relations in Nigeria Since Pre-colonial times.
The Convocation Lecture titled: Historical Trends in the Management of Inter-ethnic Relations in Nigeria, will be delivered by the Pioneer Director, Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), Professor Olawale Albert.
Established in 1974 after recommendation of “Udoji Report of 1974”, the Nigerian Academy of Letters is a National Academy and Apex body of Arts and Literature in Nigeria. The academy is an autonomous, scholarly and non-political state institution for advancing scholarship and public interest in the humanities at the highest level in Nigeria.” it is currently governed by an executive committee of distinguished Professors and promotes limited number of four types of fellows; Foundation fellows, Regular fellows, Overseas fellows and Honorary fellows on a yearly basis.
