By Cyril Ozorhampo

The Association of Nsukka Professors (ANP) has announced plans for its 2026 Adada Lecture Series, with Chukwuma Charles Soludo and former senator Chuka Utazi set to headline the event.

The annual lecture, which has grown into a platform for policy dialogue and regional development advocacy in the South-East, is scheduled for April 28.

Speaking at a press conference, ANP President, Prof. Paulinus Ugwuoke, said the lecture—titled “Intellectualism and the Development of a People: Mainstreaming the Igbo within the Context of Nigeria’s Federal Governance System”—will examine the relationship between intellectual leadership, federal equity, and regional development.

He noted that the association aims to leverage scholarship, research, and public policy engagement to promote sustainable development in Enugu North and the wider South-East.

According to Ugwuoke, the guest lecture will be delivered by Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, while Utazi will serve as keynote speaker, bringing legislative and grassroots perspectives to the discourse.

Enugu State Governor, Peter Ndubusi Mbah, is expected as special guest of honour.

Other dignitaries billed to attend include Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, while the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, will serve as chief host.

The event will be chaired by former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (retd.), with the Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Sir Dr. Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, as royal father of the day.

Ugwuoke described ANP as a body of scholars of Nsukka origin committed to influencing public policy through research and civic engagement. He said the Adada Lecture Series was established to mobilise intellectual capacity toward addressing governance and development challenges in the Nsukka cultural zone.

“At the core of ANP’s mission is the belief that ideas—not just politics—should drive development,” he said, adding that the forum would also address issues such as youth empowerment, industrial growth, and equitable representation within Nigeria’s federal structure.

The 2026 lecture comes amid renewed national conversations on fiscal federalism, resource control, and regional inclusion.

Analysts say the choice of Soludo and Utazi reflects a blend of technocratic expertise and legislative experience, with expectations that both speakers will contribute perspectives on strengthening federal balance and advancing regional development.

Organisers expressed optimism that the event would generate practical policy recommendations capable of influencing governance at both state and federal levels.

For Nsukka, widely regarded as an intellectual hub anchored by the University of Nigeria, the lecture is seen as a platform to advance ideas that could shape policy debates and promote inclusive development across the region.