Author: Nnamdi Azikiwe Unjversity
Faculty Colloquium
Dear respected faculty professors, in thanking you for your support all this while, may I respectfully inform you that in line with our collective commitment to enhance the frontiers of knowledge in the faculty that we have initiated a new academic platform through which colleagues can interrogate issues of concern to the society. Thus, the birth of the Faculty of Social Sciences Colloquium. Here, every member of the faculty is a potential presenter so long as an interest is expressed.
The first in the series of the Faculty Colloquium comes up next tomorrow, 7th February 2024, with our own dear Prof. Harry Obi-Nwosu as the presenter. Another beautiful dimension to it is that it is being hosted in the new Faculty Building and recorded as the first ever event in the edifice.
To this end, I wish to humbly appeal to you to be part of it by attending. Your presence shall be a great boost and inspiration to our young scholars. This is entirely our programme and Let’s be there in our numbers, pls.
I appreciate all your support and pray God to bless you as you come.
Prof. Frank-Collins N. Okafor
Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences
REPORTS:
Varsity Don blames Nigeria’s underdevelopment on failure of democracy
A lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Harry Obi-Nwosu, has attributed underdevelopment in Nigeria to leadership failure resulting from failed constitutional democracy.
Professor Obi-Nwosu, who was speaking during the maiden Colloquium of the Faculty of Social Sciences, also attributed the failure of democracy in the country to the quality of persons elected into leadership positions at all levels of government. He noted, “We have argued persuasively that: psychological incompetence of persons in positions of authority is the major predictor of social irresponsibility/failure. If the situation is reversed, Nigeria and Africa will develop. Thus, the envisaged reversal process (the healing process) is the actual foundation for true development of Africa.
Prof. Obi-Nwosu who is the Director, Centre for Counseling and Career Development, stressed the need to ensure that psychologically unhealthy persons are not allowed into corridors of power. “It is obviously advantageous to prevent leadership misfits by allowing only psychologically healthy persons to take up leadership.
“Psychologically deficient parents disrupt family development and endanger society with their products, psychologically deficient heads of schools, religious groups communities, and organizations destroy their various holds and endanger the society. This pattern holds for various arms and levels of government up to the presidency,” he maintained.
“It is foreseeable that most people in authority would kick against this proposal for psychological health certification as a prerequisite for appointment or presentation for election into leadership positions due to psycho-dyscrasia,” Professor Obi-Nwosu feared.
The Chief Host and Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Charles Esimone, represented by the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Frederick Odibo, noted that democracy despite its global spread, has attracted criticisms, in equal measure, from classical antiquity, to the present age.
“One of the arguments leveled against democracy is that most of the economic issues involved in casting their votes. This argument holds particularly strong validity in many third world countries, including Nigeria.
“Others changes there are inevitable frequent changes in policies; that democracy has a penchant for vehement disputation of results and predilection to electoral violence. In Nigeria, except for those conducted by the military, other elections had been characterized by bitter contestations of the results with a number of cases degenerating into violence”.
In a welcome address, the Dean, Faculty Social Sciences, Professor Frank-collins Okafor, expressed delight that the dream to have the colloquium has finally materialized through the support and cooperation of the staff of the faculty. “I am so delighted to welcome you to this all-important first in the series of the Faculty of Social Sciences Colloquium.
“The idea to initiate this Colloquium came after series of interrogations on why the erstwhile Faculty Seminar Series failed over the years. We discovered that the lack of interest on the part of colleagues and the necessary academic glamour and support, etc. were responsible.
“I am happy to inform you that today, a number of colleagues have shown interest in presenting the next papers and we wish to assure us of the commitment of the Faculty to make the Colloquium à bimonthly academic conviviality and to publish all presented papers at no cost to the presenter.
For professor Okafor, the theme of the colloquium is both timely and apt. “The topic is not only interesting but also germane and timely at a time like this in the democratic evolution of our nation.
“Nigerian democracy is under siege and emergency care unit under the deliberate conspiracy of the political miscreants whose modus operandi is antithetical to any meaningful development in the country,” he argued.
The immediate past Head of Department, Political Science, Professor Jaja Nwanegbo, discussed the topic of the colloquium while other academic staff and participants also shared their views.
Commissioning of New Faculty Building
Dear distinguished members of the Faculty of Social Sciences, I wish to happily convey to you the good news of the moment.
The commissioning and handover of our new Faculty Building has been fixed for Friday 8th December, 2023. I mean this very Friday nwanne echi. Time is 8am before the commencement of other Convocation ceremonies.
In view of the above information, may I humbly appeal to all of us to be present at the commissioning. Venue is the new site in-between the Department of Mass Communication and Economics.
All HODs are directed to be present and mobilise their members to be present, too. Students of the Faculty are also requested to attend.
We thank the Vice Chancellor and TETFUND for the delivery of this project.
God bless you.
Prof Frank-Collins N. Okafor
Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
FOSSSA DEAN’S CUP 2023
Faculty of Social Sciences Students Association (FOSSSA), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
Office of the Director of Sports
Presents:
Dean’s Cup 2023
Featuring: Political Science, Psychology, Economics, Sociology, and Mass Communication Departments.
Date: 27th November, 2023
Host: Prof. Frank-Collins Nnamdi Okafor, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
FOSSSA Oratory Symposium
Faculty of Social Sciences Students Association (FOSSSA), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.
In Collaboration with
VCO Foundation
Invites the general public to the
Oratory Symposium
South East Edition-VCO
Theme: Leadership in Digital Age: Addressing the Technological Transformation of Leadership.
Date: 20th November,2023
Time: 9am prompt
Venue: ASUU Secretariat, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka
10th FOSSSA Senate House Lecture
10th FOSSSA Senate House, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.
Presents:
SOCIAL JUSTICE & LEGISLATIVE REFORM
Theme: Exploring Laws & Policies to Promote Social Equity and Justice.
Date:18th November, 2023
Time: 10am prompt
Venue: Uzoka Center, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.
12th Annual Ziks Lecture Series
The Faculty of Social Sciences invites the university community and the general public to the 12th Annual Zik Lecture Series holding on November 16, 2023, at the ASUU Secretariat of UNIZIK Awka, by 10am. Recall that the Annual Lecture Series, endowed by Distinguished Senator Dr. Ben Ndi Obi (CON) is one of the biggest annual lectures in Nigeria that has attracted eminent dignitaries and scholars, e.g, H.E., J.J. Rawlings of Ghana, H.E., former President of Tanzania Benjamin Mkapa, H.E Dr. Bai Koroma, former President of Sierra Leone, H.E Raila Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya, H.E Atiku Abubakar (GCON), former Vice President of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Anyaoku (GCON), and a host of senators and governors; scholars such as Okwudiba Nnoli, Asisi Asobie, Wole Soyinka, Ethan Mussolini of Uganda, Dike Chukwumerije, etc.
This time, the Lecture Series will feature H.E. Dr. Joyce Banda, President of Malawi (2012-2014) as the Guest Lecturer, while H.E Dr. Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, will chair the occasion. Don’t miss it!