The Vice- Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Professor Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba on behalf of the Governing Council and the Senate of University, cordially invites the University Community to the commissioning ceremony of
Friday, 23 June 2017
Tuesday, 20 June 2017
Ahiara as Metaphor
By: Ikeazor Akaraiwe
48 years later to the exact month, Ahiara, a town in Mbaise, Imo State of Nigeria, is back in the news.
Five years ago, Emeritus Pope Benedict appointed Bishop Okpalaeke from Anambra State, to the vacant seat of Bishop of Ahiara Diocese. A section of indigenous priests and the laity refused to allow him assume office on the ground that they wanted an 'indigene' (hereinafter referred to as "engine" rather than 'non-indigene' (hereinafter referred to as "no-engine"). Bishop Okpalaeke the 'no-engine' is from Anambra State. Efforts by leaders of the church in Nigeria similarly failed, as the Mbaise priests continued to insist that one of them rather than Bishop Okpalaeke must be appointed the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese.
The crisis, it is reported, has resulted in huge disruption of activities in the diocese, as you can well imagine. Important events such as ordination and confirmation, exclusively reserved for bishops, have not held for five years. In a last-ditch effort to resolve the crisis, the Pope invited the priests and laity and the party backing Bishop Okpalaeke to nominate five representatives each for private audience with him. It is reported that Bishop Okpalaeke’s side complied, but so deep-seared is the parapoism of the 'engine' priests that they ignored the Pope’s summons, as reported by Sahara Reporters but denied by the priests.
Ahiara is historically important. It was at Ahiara on June 1, 1969 that Biafra head of state Odumegwu-Ojukwu outlined that incredible vision of inclusiveness and greatness, called the Ahiara Declaration: Principles of the Biafra Revolution. Modeled on Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere's 1967 Arusha Declaration, it was one of multiple documents drafted by Biafra's National Guidance Committee. The declaration was a roadmap for Biafra.
Fast forward to the same month of June 2017, and the news erupts that Roman Catholic priests from Ahiara/Mbaise, people presumably more knowledgeable and closer to God than the rest of us, have issued their own declaration, which sounds like 'we will submit to no other Igbo but our own clan Igbo'. It is not coincidence that Ahiara 2017 is coming to the fore same month as the Ahiara Declaration of 1969, and the heightening of agitation for the resuscitation of Biafra. What Ahiara 2017 says in a nutshell is, Biafra is no guarantee for inclusiveness. Nigeria as currently structured is no guarantee either. But Biafra will certainly be torn asunder by clannishness. Biafra 1 died on that alter among several other alters. Anyone who was thought to hold a different view in Biafra 1 was called a saboteur and ostracised.
Chairman Mao's "Letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend ..." was alien in Biafra 1. Biafra 1 lost the advantage of a cross-pollination of ideas. Ahiara 2017 is the encapsulation of the anti-one hundred thoughts philosophy as, in the universal church, it rejects church leadership from outside the clan. It forewarns the death knell of new Biafra. Ahiara 2017 redirects the prudent and wise to a new but old song, the restructure of Nigeria, whether along the lines of DEVOLUTION of more powers from Federal to State to Local governments; or REGIONALISM or FISCAL FEDERALISM.
A restructured Nigeria is win-win for ndi Igbo because we continue reaping on our nationwide investments while having sufficient autonomy to run our federating units according to our socio-cultural realities and idiosyncrasies. As it is, the Nigerian unitary quasi-federation has produced an unequal yoke, which is dragging down the stronger without exactly helping the weak. It needs restructure. The Igbo are true Nigerians. We travel everywhere and set up home. We invest as if we are indigenous to that area. The Kwankwaso name in Kano is actually Okonkwo and Sons, hausanised. An Okonkwo who set up home in Kano in the 1920s. This story can be replicated nationwide. There is an Igbo man today in Gobirawa settlement in Gamawa, Katagum Emirate, Bauchi North, irrespective of the fact that the place is too remote to reach by regular transport, being about five hours by mule or foot, and no cell phone network there. He has been there for over 20 years, runs the only shop there, and is the only English speaker in the community. He also speaks the Gobirawa variety of Hausa, which is so unique that it is considered a language of its own.
We do not need Biafra for now, unless the anti-Restructurists dig in and refuse to allow us discuss. That is what Ahiara 2017 tells me. But if Restructure fails, Biafra would have been forced upon us. However, we have not even tried Restructure as an ethnic agenda. Restructure is in fact considered a Yoruba agenda. Let us nationalise Restructure, whether along the lines of DEVOLUTION of more powers from Federal to State to Local governments; or REGIONALISM or FISCAL FEDERALISM. Let us reach out to advocates of Restructure, first of all.
By: Ikeazor Akaraiwe
48 years later to the exact month, Ahiara, a town in Mbaise, Imo State of Nigeria, is back in the news.
Five years ago, Emeritus Pope Benedict appointed Bishop Okpalaeke from Anambra State, to the vacant seat of Bishop of Ahiara Diocese. A section of indigenous priests and the laity refused to allow him assume office on the ground that they wanted an 'indigene' (hereinafter referred to as "engine" rather than 'non-indigene' (hereinafter referred to as "no-engine"). Bishop Okpalaeke the 'no-engine' is from Anambra State. Efforts by leaders of the church in Nigeria similarly failed, as the Mbaise priests continued to insist that one of them rather than Bishop Okpalaeke must be appointed the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese.
The crisis, it is reported, has resulted in huge disruption of activities in the diocese, as you can well imagine. Important events such as ordination and confirmation, exclusively reserved for bishops, have not held for five years. In a last-ditch effort to resolve the crisis, the Pope invited the priests and laity and the party backing Bishop Okpalaeke to nominate five representatives each for private audience with him. It is reported that Bishop Okpalaeke’s side complied, but so deep-seared is the parapoism of the 'engine' priests that they ignored the Pope’s summons, as reported by Sahara Reporters but denied by the priests.
Ahiara is historically important. It was at Ahiara on June 1, 1969 that Biafra head of state Odumegwu-Ojukwu outlined that incredible vision of inclusiveness and greatness, called the Ahiara Declaration: Principles of the Biafra Revolution. Modeled on Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere's 1967 Arusha Declaration, it was one of multiple documents drafted by Biafra's National Guidance Committee. The declaration was a roadmap for Biafra.
Fast forward to the same month of June 2017, and the news erupts that Roman Catholic priests from Ahiara/Mbaise, people presumably more knowledgeable and closer to God than the rest of us, have issued their own declaration, which sounds like 'we will submit to no other Igbo but our own clan Igbo'. It is not coincidence that Ahiara 2017 is coming to the fore same month as the Ahiara Declaration of 1969, and the heightening of agitation for the resuscitation of Biafra. What Ahiara 2017 says in a nutshell is, Biafra is no guarantee for inclusiveness. Nigeria as currently structured is no guarantee either. But Biafra will certainly be torn asunder by clannishness. Biafra 1 died on that alter among several other alters. Anyone who was thought to hold a different view in Biafra 1 was called a saboteur and ostracised.
Chairman Mao's "Letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend ..." was alien in Biafra 1. Biafra 1 lost the advantage of a cross-pollination of ideas. Ahiara 2017 is the encapsulation of the anti-one hundred thoughts philosophy as, in the universal church, it rejects church leadership from outside the clan. It forewarns the death knell of new Biafra. Ahiara 2017 redirects the prudent and wise to a new but old song, the restructure of Nigeria, whether along the lines of DEVOLUTION of more powers from Federal to State to Local governments; or REGIONALISM or FISCAL FEDERALISM.
A restructured Nigeria is win-win for ndi Igbo because we continue reaping on our nationwide investments while having sufficient autonomy to run our federating units according to our socio-cultural realities and idiosyncrasies. As it is, the Nigerian unitary quasi-federation has produced an unequal yoke, which is dragging down the stronger without exactly helping the weak. It needs restructure. The Igbo are true Nigerians. We travel everywhere and set up home. We invest as if we are indigenous to that area. The Kwankwaso name in Kano is actually Okonkwo and Sons, hausanised. An Okonkwo who set up home in Kano in the 1920s. This story can be replicated nationwide. There is an Igbo man today in Gobirawa settlement in Gamawa, Katagum Emirate, Bauchi North, irrespective of the fact that the place is too remote to reach by regular transport, being about five hours by mule or foot, and no cell phone network there. He has been there for over 20 years, runs the only shop there, and is the only English speaker in the community. He also speaks the Gobirawa variety of Hausa, which is so unique that it is considered a language of its own.
We do not need Biafra for now, unless the anti-Restructurists dig in and refuse to allow us discuss. That is what Ahiara 2017 tells me. But if Restructure fails, Biafra would have been forced upon us. However, we have not even tried Restructure as an ethnic agenda. Restructure is in fact considered a Yoruba agenda. Let us nationalise Restructure, whether along the lines of DEVOLUTION of more powers from Federal to State to Local governments; or REGIONALISM or FISCAL FEDERALISM. Let us reach out to advocates of Restructure, first of all.
Monday, 5 June 2017
REQUEST FOR ADVERTS PLACEMENT*
BLACK PRIDE Magazine is a magazine publication geared towards the sensitization and the promotion of the respect of the black man. The magazine aim is to project and promote Africans' culture through her general focused contents.
In line with this, the editorial board of the magazine humbly request for adverts placement of your organisation, brand, product and service in our forthcoming publication set to be out ending of July, 2017.
Because of its wide circulation in and out of Nigeria, the publication stands the chance to reach huge audience offline and online, thereby attracting a high level attention.
To appear on *Black Pride Faces* page, you can also contact us.
Are you a Business Owner? Are you looking for a platform to sell your products and services to people that have the purchasing power and have related interest in your products, services and brands in and out of campus?
Be one of the business owners that will feature on this *Campus Edition* of BLACK PRIDE Magazine.
We look forward to a successful partnership as we await your positive response.
Thank You!
Signed:
*Adigun Temitope 'DATI'*
+2348141265796
Editor-in-Chief
*Okoye Chinekwu Paulo*
+2347064308854
Advert Manager
*Duru Ifeanyi Kingston*
+2347031874495
Asst. Advert Manager
Email: blackpridemagazine@yahoo.com
Blogsite: www.blackpridemagazine.wordpress.com
Notice of Invitation to the Homecoming of Department of English & Literary Studies' Graduands
The Department of English & Literary Studies of the University of Nigeria is inviting the University Community to the opening ceremony of the Homecoming of her graduands scheduled for Thursday, June 08, 2017 at Princess Alexandra Auditorium & Unity Hall.
The opening ceremony, under the Chairmanship of Chief Nduka Eya, will feature the presence of the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Owelle Rochas A. Okorocha as the Special Guest of Honour. The Keynote Speaker is the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Professor Adamu Abubakar Rasheed.
The Head, Department of English & Literary Studies, Professor Ikenna Dieke cordially invites staff and students of the University to this all-important event of the Department which starts at 10.00 am each of these days.
Avail yourself of this timely opportunity.
Okwun Omeaku – Chief (Dr.)
Ag. PRO
Friday, 2 June 2017
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
(Information & Public Relations Unit)
Ref. No: UNN/VC/PR/133 Date: June 02, 2017
DISCLAIMER
UNN SANDWICH AND EVENING PROGRAMMES
The attention of the University of Nigeria Management, has been drawn to a certain advertorial calling for purchase of admission forms for a “Proposed Take-off” of Sandwich and Evening Degree and Diploma Programmes of the University of Nigeria. The unsuspecting members of the public have been advised to purchase admission forms from the office of the Registrar-UNN or from the Ondo State Form Collection Centres at:
i. Akure liaison office
ii. Owo Liaison Office
iii. Ore Liaison Office
iv. Akungba and Ifori Liaison Offices and
v. Ifedore Area
The General Public is hereby warned to discountenance these advertorials as the University of Nigeria hereby informs the GENERAL PUBLIC that the said adverts on the programmes are FAKE and have nothing to do with the University of Nigeria.
The University of Nigeria dissociates itself from the said adverts.
Anyone doing business with these purported Liaison Offices does so at his/her own risk.
Please be WARNED.
Okwun Omeaku - Chief (Dr.)
Ag. Public Relations Officer
--
Thursday, 1 June 2017
DISCLAIMER: UNN CUT-OFF MARK
The attention of the Management of the University of Nigeria, has been drawn to Social Media Advertorials making the rounds about University of Nigeria cut-off Marks for admission.
The University of Nigeria hereby dissociates itself from the social media publications or indeed any other publications related to admissions and cut-off marks for the University, as there has been no official pronouncement or publication on admission or cut-off marks for the University.
The general public is therefore advised to beware of dubious and fraudulent individuals currently parading advertorials on social media with regards to admission and cut-off marks for the University of Nigeria.
All official guidelines and pronouncements can only be accessed on the University website or portal: www.unn.edu.ng
Meanwhile, be it known that University of Nigeria has made no pronouncement yet on admission or cut-off marks.
Please be WARNED of fraudster.
Okwun Omeaku – Chief (Dr.)
Ag. PRO
The attention of the Management of the University of Nigeria, has been drawn to Social Media Advertorials making the rounds about University of Nigeria cut-off Marks for admission.
The University of Nigeria hereby dissociates itself from the social media publications or indeed any other publications related to admissions and cut-off marks for the University, as there has been no official pronouncement or publication on admission or cut-off marks for the University.
The general public is therefore advised to beware of dubious and fraudulent individuals currently parading advertorials on social media with regards to admission and cut-off marks for the University of Nigeria.
All official guidelines and pronouncements can only be accessed on the University website or portal: www.unn.edu.ng
Meanwhile, be it known that University of Nigeria has made no pronouncement yet on admission or cut-off marks.
Please be WARNED of fraudster.
Okwun Omeaku – Chief (Dr.)
Ag. PRO
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Roar Nigeria Portal Re-opens
Portal reopened, another opportunity to bring your Idea to reality.
What you stand to gain?
-Financial capital to work and develop your Idea
-Mentorship from top CEOs and managers
-Office space with 24/7 light and internet to work with your team
-Support system for everything you would need to move your Idea to a marketable product
You want more?
Then let's talk after your selection into the program.
Go to roarnigeria.org and click on sign up!
Don't wait till deadline, just do it, and do it now!
You have someone that might be interested?
Just share this post with them.
Good luck❤
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