Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

Academics honour emeritus professor of history, Osuntokun with festschrift

By Opeyemi Babalola
05 January 2023   |   3:12 am
Senior academics and high-net-worth individuals, recently, gathered at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), to honour erudite scholar of History and International Studies, Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, with a festschrift entitled ‘Africa and the Challenge of Underdevelopment’. The book presentation, co-organised by the Department of History and International Studies of the University of Lagos and Redeemer’s…

Unilag

Senior academics and high-net-worth individuals, recently, gathered at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), to honour erudite scholar of History and International Studies, Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, with a festschrift entitled ‘Africa and the Challenge of Underdevelopment’.

The book presentation, co-organised by the Department of History and International Studies of the University of Lagos and Redeemer’s University, also featured the celebration of Osuntokun’s 80th birthday.

Chairman of the event, Chief Olatunde Aluko, the Sasore of Ilesa, expressed joy for having known the celebrant since their university days.

While describing the celebrant as an excellent personality who has contributed hugely to the lives of his students and friends, Aluko recalled that Osuntokun assisted him when he was contesting for presidency of their Hall of resident and he won.

The Festschrift reviewer, Prof. David Aworawo, who is the Head, Department of History and Strategic Studies, UNILAG, said the book has 23 chapters, organised into four parts and edited by three scholars, Olufunke Adeboye, Benjamin Anaemene and Benard Fyanka.

He noted that the launching of the book was accurate because, “African development has been an important subject of interest to him over several decades.”

While lauding the efforts of the writers, Aworawo explained that the book contained some of the solutions to Africa’s problem. He identified some of the issues affecting the growth of Africans as corruption, lack of sincerity of purpose in governance, politics of bitterness, and poor handling of the education sector.

He quoted a section in the book written by Dr Oluwakemi Adesina and Ayowole Ilugbaju, saying, “education is critical in development. Africa has to focus on developing capacity and expanding education for competitive and quality, if Africans are to experience development.”

While recommending the book for everyone, Aworawo expressed optimism that once the suggested solutions are taken and practiced, Africans stand to witness progress in all sphere of life.

The celebrant, on his part, was full of thanks, as he said it was an impressive moment for him to have received the honour in his lifetime.

0 Comments