NLNG’s Hall of fame is to reward excellence , Mbanefo

By Yemie Adeoye
The Nigeria LNG Limited, in partnership with The Nigerian Academy of Letters and the Nigerian Academy of Science, recently instituted Science and Literature Hall of Fame.

Mbanefo

Taking a cue from the Hall of Fame for Great Americans set up as a reminder to the American people of the efforts taken to liberate and take their country to where it now stands in the comity of nations. Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Mbanefo explains further on the development. Excerpts:

Who are those be inducted into the science and literature hall of fame, and why now?
There is, strictly speaking, no particular time or season to honour achievers; to establish a hall of fame. The Hall of Fame for Great Americans was established in 1900. The Walhalla Temple, the German hall of fame was conceived in 1807 and built in 1830.

A hall of fame is meant to honour individuals with noteworthy achievements in a particular field. Usually, the hall of fame can be physical, figurative or metaphorical in which case there is simply a register or roll of honourees. So the answer to your question is that any time, anywhere, there are men and women worthy of honour, a hall of fame should be established either physically or metaphorically.
The Nigerian Academy of Science, The Nigerian academy of Letters and Nigeria LNG Limited, agreed to establish this hall of fame principally to honour great Nigerians who by their work have put this great country on the world map. The honour is restricted to writers and scientists in this case.

What are the criteria for the award?
Those who will be honoured will be those who by their work have directly impacted on the society. They are likely to be writers and scientists who put Nigeria on the world map and also who put science and literature on the streets.

In simple terms, the criteria for scientists emphasise ground_breaking or utilitarian works relevant to solving developmental problems in Nigeria, while those for literature stresses relevance to the society.

To recap, the writers to be inducted are authors whose works constitute our country’s rich literary heritage. It is meant to recognise writers, past and present, dead or alive, whose works reflect the character of our great country _ its land, and its people.

The work of scientists to be inducted must have brought great benefits to society and their communities as a whole and must have contributed in an exceptional way to the advancement of science and technology in Nigeria and must have made achievements that were nationally or internationally recognised by their peers in the scientific community

Would honourees be only members of the Academy of Science and Academy of Letters?
Not in the least. You can be a scientist and not be a member of the Nigerian Academy of Science or a writer and not be a member of the Nigerian Academy of Letters. We are not looking for potentials here, we are considering achievements; accomplishments. Excellence is the only consideration.

And for this purpose, members of the selection panel were carefully selected. They are eminent men and women.
Who are the members of your selection panel?

For science, you have Professor Oye Ibidapo_Obe, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Professor Ekanem Braide, Fellow of the Science Academy and Professor Sunday Bwala, also a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science.

The literature team are Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo, Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Professor Romanus Egudu, President of the Academy of Letters and Professor Zaynab Alkali, a professor of English and creative writing.
This is an intellectual matter, why throw the voting open to the public?

Ultimately, the people are the best judge of relevance. The impact should be on the larger society, not just in the scientific or literary community. It is in the streets that you determine relevance. So the people are in the best position to judge.

Secondly, these men, by the very nature of the award have not only become instant celebrities, they have also become role models. We want them to inspire the society, to lift this nation by their sheer accomplishments and clout.

If someone’s invention reduced mortality rate, increased life expectancy, eliminated rigging, solved problems of energy shortage, he is most likely to be a practitioner of relevant science.

What is the relationship between the hall of fame and The Nigeria Prize for Science and The Nigeria Prize for Literature which your company sponsors?

Advertising students would describe the relationship as brand extension, something akin to what the Man Booker did in 2005 when it started The Man Booker International Prize, a literary award given biennially to a living author of any nationality for fiction published in English or generally available in English translation.

Photos of the honourees, apart from gracing the halls of the science and letters academy, may be hung in national monuments such museums, national assembly, etc. plans are afoot to approach the leadership of the National Assembly with the proposal.