Scholars, others for Odia Ofeimun at 70 Conference

Intellectuals, scholars and academics from within Nigeria, Africa, North America and Europe are expected to gather for the Odia Ofeimun at 70 Conference. This was made known in a release signed by Jahman Anikulapo on behalf of the Odia Ofeimun at 70 Committee. The event, scheduled to hold on March 16 and 17 in Lagos, […]

Intellectuals, scholars and academics from within Nigeria, Africa, North America and Europe are expected to gather for the Odia Ofeimun at 70 Conference.

This was made known in a release signed by Jahman Anikulapo on behalf of the Odia Ofeimun at 70 Committee.

The event, scheduled to hold on March 16 and 17 in Lagos, is organised to mark the 70th birthday celebration of Ofeimun, a Nigerian poet, journalist, dance-drama producer, critic, columnist and public intellectual.

Activities include the ‘Taking Nigeria Seriously: A Conference in Honour of Odia Ofeimun’ on the 16th and end with a Special Dinner in honour of the celebrant on the evening of March 17.

The keynote address will be given by Professor Biodun Jeyifo, a reputed literary scholar and globally recognised cultural theorist, who until recently was with Harvard University in the United States of America.

The opening ceremony of the conference will be chaired by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Honourable Minister of Interior of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while the dinner will be chaired by a renowned civil rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba.

Ofeimun, who has published close to forty books, has served as Private Secretary to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Nigerian nationalist and politician between 1978 and 1981; was a member of the editorial board of The Guardian from 1983 to 1988, Chairman of the Editorial Board of The News, Tempo and AM News from 1993 to 1999, and President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) from 1993 to 1997.