Michael Ezenwata :
The Centre For Gender Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Campus in collaboration with The Centre For Migration Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Campus has successfully launched the 1st Professor Akachi Ezeigbo International Conference.
The conference with the theme, “Gender Dynamics In African Diaspora Literature, Education, Visual Arts And Performance,’took place in Awka with a firm resolve that gender issues be balanced to accommodate the sensibilities of both human sexes.
Declaring the event open, the acting Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Professor Carol Arinze- Umobi spoke of the imperatives of treating both gender with equal respect and abolishing all acts targeted at culturally inhibiting the female gender.
According to the Vice Chancellor, where disputes arise between married couples occasioning a divorce, affected couples should have their assets shared equally.
She thanked the organizers of the conference for their thought provoking discourse which should not be swept under the carpet.
In a keynote lecture,Professor Mabel Evwierho an Urhobo born academic, dwelt extensively on the female gender discrimination and the need to annihilate the ugly trend.
Prof. Evwierho urged women to be assertive in their demands in the society, and extolled the contributions of the celebrant Prof. Ezeigbo in her works of creativity which have given the feminine gender a voice globally.
She raised pertinent questions such as,”Is having five daughters a crime? Why discriminate against women in the African tradition?
In a message to the occasion, the Anambra State Commissioner For Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma- Udeh congratulated Professor Ezeigbo for her literary contributions championing the rights of women and condemning in subtle terms discrimination against them.
The Commissioner used the forum to commend Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his exemplary leadership which has given women a voice in the state and equally promoted excellence in his overall policy framework.
Also in her message, the Anambra state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General Prof. Sylvia Ifemeje felicitated with Prof. Ezeigbo for her literary contributions championing the rights of women.
On her part, the Chairperson of the event and the Provost College of Post graduate Studies Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Campus Prof. Philomena Igbokwe thanked the organizers of the conference for celebrating excellence in Prof Ezeigbo.
In a speech, the director Centre For Gender Studies, NAU, Prof. Lilian-Rita Ifeoma Akudolu while celebrating the celebrant, used the forum to announce that as from the 2024/ 2025 academic session, the centre will run a post graduate diploma programme and masters degree programme on gender studies.
Prof. Akudolu urged interested persons to take advantage of the innovation to enrol in the programmes.
In a speech, the celebrant Prof Ezeigbo thanked the organizers of the conference and her numerous admirers for celebrating her.
In a vote of thanks, the local organizing chairman of the international conference and director Centre For Migration Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe university Awka Campus Prof. Tracie Utoh- Ezeajughi congratulated Professor Ezeigbo for her exemplary literary works which have given women a voice in the society.
Prof. Utoh- Ezeajughi used the forum to announce that subsequent editions of the Prof. Ezeigbo’s conference on gender will be rotated among universities in the South east States of Nigeria with next on the line, the Madonna University Okija.
