The Immediate Past President of Sierra Leone, Mr. Ernest Bai-Koroma, has called on African Leaders to redouble their efforts in promoting peace, good governance and enhance socio economic opportunities, to stop most Africans from unhealthy migrations to other parts of the World.Mr. Bai-Koroma made this call during the 8th Zik Memorial Lecture Series, organized by Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.
The event which was held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University auditorium, attracted men and women from all segments of lives, academicians, captains of industry, students, Zik’s family, the International Community, South East leaders among others.
Delivering a lecture with the theme ” Migration and Development in Africa: Patterns, Issues and Challenges”. Mr. Bai-Koroma, said that migration itself is not new to the human race, as anthropologists opined that the human species started spreading on the planet within and outside Africa between two million and two point five million years ago.
Mr. Koroma who explained that there are two types of migration, forced and voluntary migration, noted that Africa has been the victim of the largest forced migration in history because of the trans Atlantic slave trade.
The Former President, who described late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as a true Nationalist and Pan Africanist, urged current African leaders to adopt his model of governance which he said, is capable of entrenching good governance in the continent.
One of the discussants, who was a former Nigerian minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode, maintained that until Nigeria apologized to Ndigbo over the genocide that occurred between1967 to 1970, as well as integrate the people of the South East into the country’s mainstream politics, Nigeria may not truly achieve its maximum potential, as Ndigbo are divinely gifted by God. The Governor of the old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo who chaired the occasion, urged governors of the South East region to declare November Sixteenth as Public holiday for other states in Nigeria to follow, and charged current leaders of African continent, to emulate Zik’s political philosophy of inclusiveness.
The benefactor of the Zik’s lecture series Senator Ben Ndi-Obi, said that Zik’s contribution towards the emancipation of Africa and Nigeria in particular, remains one of the major topics in the anal of African history, as his memory and achievements are recorded and handed down from one generation to another, making his strides legendary
Some of the dignitaries at the event were, the wife of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Professor Uche Azikiwe, his son, Mr. Uwakwe Azikiwe, the traditional ruler of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Viola Onwunari, the Attorney General of Anambra State and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Uju Nworgu, her Basic Education Counterpart, Professor Kate Omenugha, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the ABS, Nze Uche Nworah, among others.Cutting of Zik’s posthumous birthday cake was the peak of the event.
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