By Adesina Wahab

Dr Gever Verlumun Celestine, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has been formally invited to serve as a keynote speaker at the prestigious 3rd International Conference on Education, Languages, Literature, and Arts (ICOELLA) 2026.
The conference, to be hosted by the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), Indonesia, is scheduled to take place on June 25, 2026.
Dr Gever is expected to speak on the topic: “Digital Humanities in Advancing Sustainable Development and Education”. The organising committee noted that his expertise in this specific area would provide valuable perspectives and contribute significantly to the success of the global event.
The invitation follows a string of international accolades for Dr Gever, who was in 2024 ranked among the top 2% of scientists globally according to the Stanford/Elsevier.
His promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer at UNN further underscores his growing influence in the academic community.
In an official letter dated April 6th, 2026, signed by the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Prof Nur Qudus, the institution expressed great pleasure in welcoming Dr Gever as an esteemed speaker. Responding to the development, Dr Gever expressed delight at the opportunity to represent the Nigerian academic community on such a significant platform.
Beyond his teaching and research roles at UNN, Dr Gever serves as the Editor-in-Chief of several high-impact academic journals, including the Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, which was recently ranked #7 in Africa.
He is also the author of the novel Stolen Joy, which has been adopted as a compulsory text for junior secondary schools in Benue State.
The ICOELLA 2026 conference is expected to draw participants from various continents, fostering a cross-cultural exchange of ideas aimed at leveraging digital humanities for educational advancement and global sustainability.