Prof JP Clark’s international conference begins in Lagos

The first Prof. John Pepper Clark International Conference will hold from today, July 11, through 14, 2018 at University of Lagos, Nigeria. It has as theme ‘Connecting the Local and Global Across Literary Genres.’

Its conveners are Prof. Hope Eghagha of the University of Lagos and Dr. G. Oty Agbajoh-Laoye, of Monmouth University, USA.

This international conference will address a variety of themes, ranging from the indigenous and communal, to broader contemporary issues like the African Diaspora, global Africa, the local and global, issues and dimensions across and within the micro and macro aspects of the writings of J. P Clark.

In a statement, the organisers said that the conference was expected to be an agenda-setting event in which participants, drawn from the literati, local and foreign academic institutions as well as other institutions involved in knowledge production across the globe would map a field for J.P Clark Studies and locate the place of the poet, playwright and elder statesman in historical contemporary developments in African and Nigerian writing.

The opening ceremony holds on Thursday at 11.00am.

Professor Wole Soyinka is expected to give the keynote address entitled “Othello’s Lament: the Migrant Rues the Waves.”

The host of the event is Prof. Muyiwa Falaiye, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. Chairman and Chief-host is the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Toyin Ogundipe, while the special guest of honour is Vanguard publisher, Mr. Sam Amuka.