…Jonathan,Prof. Mulumba, other dignitaries to grace event

…why we established African Dialogue Institute– Dr Udo

… Wants Nigeria to set aside every May 25 to celebrate Africa Day

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

A conference seeking to provide informed Pan-Africanist perspectives on a wide range of issues affecting Africa and its people everywhere in the world is billed to take place between May 23 and 26,2024.

The need for unity, resilience,common identity as Africans and celebration of Africanness are among issues that top agenda at the event that would have former President Goodluck Jonathan as chairman and Kenya’s renowned activist lawyer and Director of Kenyan School of Law, Patrick Mulumba, as keynote Speaker.

The event is to be hosted by The Pan African Dialogue Institute,TPADI, a civil society think tank for the study, practice and propagation of Pan-Africanism in collaboration with the Centre for Deep Dialogue and Critical Thinking, Directorate of International Programmes and faculties of Arts, Law, Social Sciences, and Communication and Media Studies of the University of Uyo.

President of TPADI, Dr. Effiong Joseph Udo, addressing a news conference in Abuja, ahead of the event where the institute will be formally unveiled,hinted that there will be celebration of 2024 Africa Day on May 25.

“The conference seeks to provide informed Pan-Africanist perspectives on a wide range of issues affecting Africa and its people everywhere in the world.

“Presenters are invited to explore the trajectories of development in the continent from the lens of Pan-Africanism. It will be interesting to probe the different approaches, theories, philosophies or ideologies that have been adopted at community, national and continental levels by key players to drive developmental efforts. How much have the indigenous knowledge systems and practices been embraced or discarded in propelling the continent towards genuine freedom and development?

“The transformation of the lingering social, political and economic impasse in the continent requires the critical evaluation of African scholars and professionals toward the achievement of stability, peace, and freedom as envisioned in the 2063 Agenda of the African Union, “he said.

Speaking further, Dr Udo explained:”We are using the conference to celebrate the 2024 Africa Day which will be on May 25.

“In this regard, The Pan African Dialogue Institute (TPADI) is taking the lead to mark the day in a grand ceremony. Our institute will be formally launched on that day in a grand ceremony at the University of Uyo with former President Goodluck Jonathan as the chairman of the occasion.

” Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Ndaeyo and hundreds of distinguished personalities from Nigeria and outside the country will be present. Gov. Umo Eno will lay the foundation for the International Headquarters of the Institute at the University.”

He thanked the Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo, Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo and his Management team for embracing the study of Pan-Africanism, and supporting the hosting of the conference.

“We are expecting a host of dignitaries from across Nigeria and the globe, including the former President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to serve as Chairman of the Africa Day events, and the former Vice President of Republic of The Gambia, Her Excellency, Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang, and Vice President of Colombia, Her Excellency, Francia Marguez, who had since indicated interest in attending.

“In this regard, we are working with the Federal Government of Nigeria to actualize the coming of Her Excellency, the Colombian Vice President. We are also hopeful that the Akwa Ibom State Government ably led by His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno will be happy to help facilitate the hosting of this global event in Uyo because of the attendance of so many international dignitaries.

“My expectation is that with the hosting of the international conference and the launch of the institute, Nigeria will not only join to keep alive the intellectual dimension of Pan Africanism, but also become a major player in championing the struggle for unity, human and environmental dignity, self-determination and cultural renaissance that are needed for the genuine development and prosperity of the African people worldwide, “he added.

Speaking on the institute, Udo, who explained that it was conceived in 2016 by a couple of African academics and professionals led by “my humble self (from Nigeria) and Prof. Mutombo Nkulu-N’Sengha (from Democratic Republic of Congo / USA)”, said the institute domiciled at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, is “a network of academics, professionals, civil society and grassroot leaders in different fields of life, within Africa and the diaspora, who are motivated by the best principles of Pan Africanism to serve the continent and its people worldwide.”

“TPADI’s programs and activities revolve around three thematic areas, viz aviz, education, policy and projects,’he explained.

While noting that,”Pan-Africanism emerged as a response to the long history of the indignities of colonization, enslavement, and systemic oppression and exploitation faced by African people across the globe”, he explained that,”The Pan African Dialogue Institute is therefore established to pursue the decolonization of the mind through education, policy analysis, policy building and advocacy around multi-faceted issues within the threshold of Pan-African principles.”

“Our job is to inspire excellence and best practices in Pan Africanism, promote African values of community, hospitality, respect for human and environmental dignity, unity in diversity, love and solidarity with all, as encapsulated in the Ubuntu philosophy. We are seeking to reverse the mentality that Africans are not capable of helping themselves and solving their problems. We want to reverse that culture of dependency on external assistance that unfortunately still prevails on the continent. If people become too reliant on getting their support, their nourishment and their safety from outside sources, they do not strive to find the power within themselves to rely on their own capacities.

“Pan Africanism calls upon Africans to drawn on their own strengths and capacities and become self-reliant. Again, we are seeking to celebrate our Africanness, the unity, resilience and collective identity as Africans. And, we want to achieve all these by using dialogue and collaboration among individuals, communities, institutions and nations.

“Accordingly, many Africans and African leaders have lukewarm attitude towards Pan Africanism, and many African countries, including Nigeria, do not even remember to mark International Africa Day.

” It is on record that on May 25, 1963, leaders of the then 32 independent African States signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which brought the Organization of African Unity into existence.

” In 2002, the OAU established its own successor, the African Union, and adopted May 25 every year as a day to celebrate Africa and highlight the continents continued struggle against neocolonialism, exploitation and advery.

“Surprisingly, ever since the day was declared, only nine African countries (The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) are known to observe May 25 as public holiday with celebrations.

“The other 46 countries, including Nigeria are less aware of this very important day. In this regard, TPADI makes it possible for Nigeria to celebrate Africa Day, the first time ever, ” he said.