Chicago – By Emman Okuns.
Benson Idahosa University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ernest Izevbigie has expressed serious concern over the shortage of lecturers, especially in the Law and Mass communications departments in the Nigerian universities and called for help from people in the Diaspora.
The University Don made the disclosure and appeal last Saturday as a keynote speaker at the commencement of the 23rd Edo National Association Worldwide (ENAW) convention with the theme, Patriotism: A Recipe For Development of Edo State in Chicago, Illinois, the United States of America.
Professor Izevbigie said that the Mass Communication Department of Benson Idahosa University, located in Benin City, Edo State was mostly affected, appealing to people in the Diaspora with Degrees in the field to consider teaching at the institution.
He told Nigerians abroad to always remember their roots and join in the development of their country, urging everyone to imbibe the spirit of patriotism which he referred to as the love of and willingness to defend one’s country.
He took cognizance of the academic knowledge they may have acquired while living in foreign lands and said “we must find ways to translate our knowledge into helping our state and country to develop.”
Professor Izevbigie thanked America for the knowledge he acquired while here and said that at some point of his sojourn in the U.S. he had to make a painstaking decision to return home to contribute such knowledge to the development of his country.
He urged the people to emulate such action, saying however, that those who do not want to return to Nigeria could still participate in the affairs of the county by staying connected and making necessary contributions to the advancement of the nation.
“If you have a country you love and care about and are ready to defend it, you have got to be involved; the Nigeria that served as your entry point to this world, that is Nigeria.”
He praised Akugbe-Oretin of Chicago and Edo National Association Worldwide for organizing the convention and reminded the audience of the enviable place of Edo people in history, saying that we must make effort to contribute to the development of the state.
Professor Izevbigie touted the achievement of Benson Idahosa University describing it as citadel of academic excellence, saying that the institution had raised men and women of great intellectual capacity who now excel in various fields of human endeavor.
In trying to woo Nigerians in the Diaspora to come back home, he said “Nigeria is now the biggest economy in Africa” with great strides in various strata of the economy, including agriculture, commerce and the entertainment industry, all of which he said were reflective of the Jonathan Government transformational agenda.
Professor Izevbigie harped on innovation as a phenomenon that drives the engine of national development and called on all Nigerians to be on board.
He told them to tap the spirit of patriotism and altruism to create the ingenuity to make great things happen in Nigeria.
“You have been commissioned and challenged to solve Nigeria’s problem,” he charged.
Earlier in his opening prayer, representative of the Benin Monarch, Prince Ademola Iyi-Eweka called for the unity of all Edo people.
Also speaking, The Onojie of Opoji in Edo State who doubled as special guest and representative of Edo State Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Aidenojie Ehigiamen urged Edo National Association Worldwide to continue to help his community in the area of healthcare as it did last year when ENAW medical mission visited.
He also acknowledged the achievement of the Association, with particular reference to the medical mission and park project and stressed the need for all Edo-oriented ethnic organizations to be part of ENAW.
He promised to bring the issue up in the next traditional council meeting for the Royal Fathers to drive this message home.
He appealed to ENAW to expand its executive to include members from other ethnic groups in the state.
The Governor of the State of Illinois, Mr. Pat Quinn in his goodwill message to the convention acknowledged the achievement of Edo National Association Worldwide, saying “Since inception, ENAW has been dedicated to building a healthy and vibrant community of Edo people worldwide.”
The Governor said that the organization had positively impacted many lives through offering of a wide array of programs and services, including medical and health awareness initiatives, as well as providing educational information on sex trafficking.
Also in his message of goodwill, the Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel acknowledged the role of Edo National Association as an umbrella organization for numerous ethnic clubs and associations.
“ENA carries out a number of projects and initiatives aimed at community improvement, and uplifts youth through involved programming,” adding that it not only preserves and promotes Nigerian culture and tradition in Chicago, but also abroad.
“I recognize the Edo National Association alongside Akugbe-Ortetin Club for an unwavering dedication to both the greater Nigeria and Chicagoland communities,” the Mayor declared.
In a nine-point proclamation, the president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners in the State of Illinois, Toni Preckwinkle on behalf of the county thanked Akugbe-Oretin for “aiding and abetting some of the most vulnerable individuals in Cook County.”
She also thanked the club for its cultural contributions which enrich the lives of the residents of Cook County.
The occasion was attended by Edo sons and daughters from various parts of the world, amongst whom were, former Federal Minister of Works, Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi; the Honorable Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Barr. Uyigue Igbe; Nigeria’s Defense Attaché to the United States, Colonel Ehioze Osifo; Chairman Owan West Local Government of Edo State, Attorney Gordie Daniels; Honorable member, Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs. E. U. Ativie; Senator Ehigie Uzamere and Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Henry Idahagbon.
Others included, Entrepreneurs, Mr. and Mrs. Ewaen and Naomi Osagiede of Beyond Healthcare LLC; Dr. Philip Emokpae; Educationist and President of Edo Heritage Foundation, Dr. Roland Ehigiamusoe; Edo State Muslim Pilgrimage Board member and Secretary of Edo Heritage Foundation, Alhaji Mohammed Ighile; former Commander of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta and current Chairman of Edo State Neighborhood Watch, Retired Major-General Charles Omoregie; The Obazelu of Benin Kingdom, Chief Osaro Idah; Edo State permanent Secretary, Mrs. Osayumare Idahosa, etc.
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