The Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), has scheduled its 25th Convocation for Thursday, August 10, 2023, where 10 members will be invested as Fellows and 52 new members will be inducted.
The event which will hold at the usual venue, J. F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos (UNILag), will equally feature the Academy’s Annual General Meeting and the election of new executive members on Friday, August 11, 2023.
The Convocation Theme is “Inter-ethnic and Intra-ethnic Relations in Nigeria Since Pre-colonial Times.”
According to the programme of the event signed by Professor Ayobami Kehinde, former Head of Department, English, University of Ibadan (UI), the event, which will start on Wednesday, August 9, will witness the induction of members who joined the Academy after the 24th Convocation, held on August 11, 2022, including members who joined since 2016 and have not been formally inducted.
According to the statement, the hybrid/blended event slated courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, executive committee meeting and Fellow’s Night: Dinner and Pre-Dinner Talk titled, “Fusion Out of Fission: Drama, Inter-Ethnic and Intra-Ethnic Relations Since Precolonial Times”, by Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma, FNAL.
The Convocation lecture titled, “Historical Trends in the Management of Inter-Ethnic Relations in Nigeria” to be delivered by Professor Olawale Albert, the pioneer Director of the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), and induction of new members will be held on August 10.
The event will also feature scientific sessions on different topics: “From Precolonial Period to the Present: Ethnic Conflicts in Nigerian Literature”, by Professor Florence Orabueze, “Ethnicity and the Challenge of Nation-Building in Nigeria”, by Professor Oyeronke Olademo, and “Ethnicity and the Evolution of Nigerian Languages”, by Professor Lendzemo Constantine Yuka.
The members to be invested as Fellows are:
- Professor Ayobami Kehinde (Literary Studies) – Regular Fellow)
- Professor Asabe Kabir Usman (Literary Studies) – Regular Fellow)
- Professor Solomon Oluwole Oyetade (Linguistics) – Regular Fellow)
- Professor Herbert S. Igboanusi (Linguistics) – Regular Fellow)
- Professor Egodi Uchendu (History) – Regular Fellow)
- Professor Olufunke Asake Adeboye (History) – Regular Fellow)
- Professor Emmanuel Samu Dandaura (Theatre, Visual and Performing Arts)– Regular Fellow
- Professor Irene Isoken Agunloye (Theatre, Visual and Performing Arts) – Regular Fellow
- Professor Isaac Olawale Albert (Interdisciplinary & Multi-disciplinary Studies) – Regular Fellow
The new members to be inducted are:
Professors Isikilu Bayo Oloyede, Anthony Olusola Fosudo, Gloria M.T. Emezue, Ernest Obukohwo Agoba, Ephraim Azoluwaehu Chukwu, Barine Saana Ngaage, Saleh Abdu, Michael Olutayo Olatunji, Theodora Ukamaka Onuko, Kenneth Chukwuemeka Nwoko, Alhaji Maina Gimba, Alexandra Esimaje, Ahmed Hammawa, Babatunde Olusola Ope-Davies, Rasheed Oyewole Olaniyi, Adebola Adebileje, Samuel Ovuete Aghalino, Abdulateef Femi Usman, Mukhtar A. Yusuf, Simon Itine Abochol, Sunny Awhefeada, Nosa Owens-Ibie, Iniobong Uko, Ifeyinwa Nsude, and Eno Ime Akpabio.
Others are Professors Mohammed Laminu Mele, Eserinune McCarty Mojaye, Abigail Odozi Ogwezzy, Iyabode Omolara Akewo Nwabueze, Yakubu Magaji Azare, Fúnmi Ọmọlàbákẹ́ Olúbọ̀dé-Sàwẹ̀, Peter Esuh, Titi Janet Fola-Adebayo, Sadiya Sani Daura, Greg Orji Obiamalu, David Olugbenga Ogungbile, Felix Abidemi Fabunmi, Temitope Abiodun Balogun, Dinatu Iwala, Festus Ayodeji Soyoye, Ngozi Ugo Emeka-Nwobia, Eno Grace Nta, Olalere Adeyemi, Abba Isa Tijani, Abba Alkasum, Chiedozie Okoro, Emmy Unuja Idegu, Juliana Omoifo-Okoh, Iwu Remigius Obi Ikwubuzo, Mufutau A. Tijani, Augustine Uzoma Nwagbara, Yunusa Kehinde Salami and Kyrian Ayiba Ojong.
