|
WELCOME ADDRESS AT THE 4TH CHIEF (DR.) JACOB U. EGHAREVBA (MBE) MEMORIAL LECTURE BY COORDINATOR, INSTITUTE FOR BENIN STUDIES HELD AT OBA AKENZUA II CULTURAL CENTRE ON 14TH DECEMBER, 2001.
xxxxxx HIS ROYAL MAJESTIES OMO N’OBA N’EDO UKU AKPOLOKPOLO, OBA EREDIAUWA CFR, OBA OF BENIN HRH,OKPARA I, OVIE OF AGBON, MY LORDS SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL, MR. CHAIRMAN, DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMEN
On behalf of the Institute for Benin Studies, I happily welcome you all to the 4th chief (Dr.) Jacob Uwadiae Egharevba (MBE) memorial lecture. That we are holding the fourth lecture today means that the personality being honoured needs not much introduction anymore. But for the benefit of first timers, Chief (Dr.) Egharevba MBE who lived between 1893 and 1980 was the first indigenous Edo man to write and Publish monumental works totaling thirty three books and booklets on Edo history and culture as well as related peoples. He was variously and well honoured in his lifetime, but this occasion is only helping to further the good works he started. We thank God and congratulate ourselves for continuing the sustenance of the seven years old institute and five years old lecture series in spite of the serious financial difficulties under which we work. The continued barrenness of our cultural landscape, which is yet to experience any rejuvenation since the exit of the military prods us to soldier on for the Cultural development of our people.
Though we have been seemingly quiet in the past year, we are happy to inform of new projects we are undertaking in the New Year. Firstly, we are launching the Journal of Benin Studies, which is ready for the press and would be organizing an international conference on” Politics, Society and rights in Traditional Societies in collaboration with the Carnegie council for Ethics and international affairs of New York in April, 2000.
This 4th lecture by distinguished Prof. Peter P. Ekeh, which has brought the seemingly heterogeneous but linguistically and culturally homogenous Edoid people together today, we hope will help to stoke the fire of unity among the Edoid people and foster oneness through development of a common lingua franca. We cannot end this address without first thanking our Royal Father Omo n’Oba n”Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa CFR for his financial and Moral support. We also thank our special Guest of Honour and Royal Father HRH Okpara I, Ovie of Agbon who took time off from our teaming brothers and sisters in his domain to join us in waving of the emblem of unity and oneness.
We thank our Guest Lecturer Prof. Ekeh for contributing his time and resources to come from America to give this lecture and further cementing our oneness. This lecture would not have been possible without the financial muscle of our brothers Dr. Nowa Omoigui U.S. based cardiologist and cultural activist, Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi MD/CEO of Partnership Investment Company who has virtually taken over as the major sponsor of the lecture in the last two years, Engineer Osarenkhoe, President of Edoma Club Lagos, Mr Andy Ehanire,CEO, Ogba zoo and park and Chief Lugard Aimiuwu. We appreciate their kind gesture. _______________________
CELEBRATING LIFE All protocols observed Please let me start with my trade-mark declaration. I was born a Nigerian. I love my country Nigeria. I will die a Nigerian. If I come back to the world times, I will come back a Nigerian.
God has been so kind to Nigeria, but Nigerians have not been kind to Nigeria. Our country has been exceptionally favoured with natural, mineral, and human resources. Our lands are so fertile that if you plant a finger, a human being can grow. Our long-suffering people are warm, friendly, peace loving, and accommodating. The only natural disaster, in a country that is otherwise devoid of natural disasters, has been her inept leadership, especially some uniformed adventures, their civilian cohorts, plus uniformed, but acquiescing followership, all combining to subject our dear country to unmitigated pillage, looting, abuse, misuse., Mismanagement, dehumanization, provocation, over the decades since independence. God has remained kind to Nigeria.
We are still awakened everyday, like clockwork, to the predictable, luxuriant glow of the glorious African sun, by the dawn chorus of a mosaic of African birds, including the crowing of the regal, and distinctive African cock. More importantly, the Almighty has given to Nigeria, Benin, the spring of life, the bastion of culture, crucible of values, heartbeat of Black African civilization, the most documented black success story of history. Let us continue to celebrate the success that was Great Benin, and draw inspiration from the achievements of our ancestors who were world beaters in their time, unlike our generation who are thoroughly world-beaten. Let the heritage called Great Benin contribute to the nation Nigeria some of those strengths and values so desperately needed by our new gestating country- integrity, patriotism, loyalty, industry, family values, reverence to God, respect for leaders, discipline, social inclusiveness and integration, visionary leadership, world-class ambition, world-class achievement, merit-based, firm, fair, transparent, and predictable reward (and sanction )system, etc, competencies for which great Benin was accorded world acclaim over the centuries. But first, Benin must re-awaken Benin.
History is about real people, about life. It is people who make history, and not history that makes people. Civilization is about life. Culture is about life. When we celebrate history, civilization and culture, we are not only celebrating the life that was, or just celebrating or moaning the life that is, but also redefining the life that should be, and our role in actualizing the dreams, ideals, aspirations and goals. It is in this light that we must commend the Institute for Benin Studies for its commitment to African Renaissance, as best projected by the African success story, great Benin. Let us also congratulate it for organizing the Egharevba Memorial Lecture, now in its fourth year. Let us celebrate Egharevba’s contribution to History, and let all those better endowed academically, take up the challenge, and pick up the gauntlet from where he left it. Whilst celebrating the contributions of those long dead and gone, let us enjoin those living to uplift, upgrade, and upscale their contributions, to catalyze the steady march of human civilization.
We are here, today, to listen to the distinguished Professor Ekeh, who has come all the way from Buffalo, New York, to shed more light on the era of the Ogisos and Eweka in Benin history. You are most welcome. Let us, together, celebrate life. Thank you. {Chairman’s Address by Chief LEA Aimiuwu, FNIM, FNMA, ( The Osayuwanoba of Benin Kingdom), Management Strategy Consultant, and Chairman, Edo Renaissance, of the 4th Annual Egharevba Lecture, on “Ogiso Times and Eweka Times” by Institute for Benin Studies, at the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre, Benin city on 14/12/2001}
|