The 34th annual conference of the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) gets underway at the Federal University Lokoja in Kogi State April 29th, 2024. It will last two days.
A statement by Prof Hassan Saliu, president of the NPSA gave the theme of the conference as “Governance and Nation-Building in Nigeria: Options for Policy”. The theme has been justified in the strong belief of the NPSA that all the major problems facing Nigeria are governance-induced, and the stress of nation-building being experienced, a major fallout of the governance architecture.
A longer argumentation of the theme goes as follows: Nigeria is currently facing some challenges. The cost of living is unbearable, so also is the security situation unnerving. The level of national unity and cohesion is nervous. The story is not different from the external sector where it is apparent that there is a reduction in the level of influence that the country enjoys in inter-state relations. Indeed, the list of the concerns is growing, as we note the efforts of government at all levels to steer the nation away from these concerns. As a body of intellectuals, our Association is equally worried about the shape of things in our nation. NPSA is also saying that both the theme and the conference itself are in keeping with its motto of promoting democracy for development.
Political scientists would therefore be converging on the confluence town to interrogate the two basic issues, hoping to “come up with suggestions that can assist policy makers in overcoming the challenges”.
While the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Right Honourable Tajudeen Abass, will be the Chairman at the occasion, the Vice-President, Senator Shettima Kassim (GCON) will be the Special Guest of Honour with Dr. Kayode Fayemi (CON), former Governor of Ekiti State serving as the Keynote Speaker. Professor Victor Adetula of the Department of Political Science at the University of Jos will be the Lead Paper Presenter at the conference. National Chairmen of the three leading political parties, senators, members of HoR and some other important personalities are being expected as Special Guests of Honour at the event whose Chief Host is the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo. Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, serves as the host.
The statement lists seven member of the NPSA billed to be awarded fellows of the NPSA which will be the highlight of the event:
- Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Minister of External Affairs and the immediate past CoS to President Muhammadu Buhari.
- Professor Sam Oyovbaire, former President of NPSA and ex-Minister, Ministry of Information and Culture.
- Professor Elochukwu Amucheazi, former Pro-Chancellor and ex- DG, National Orientation Agency, NOA.
- Professor Alaba Ogunsanwo, foundation member of NPSA and former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU.
- Professor Tijjani Bande, former DG, NIPSS and ex-Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
- Professor Istifanus Zabadi, former Commissioner and ex-Provost, National Defence College, Abuja.
- Professor Marieatu Tenuche, Vice-Chancellor, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba and a delegate to National Constitutional Conference, 2014.
