By Ikenna Nwokedi
The Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka on Friday, 17th November 2023 held her 2023 UNESCO World Philosophy Day and Alumni Homecoming. The event which was held at the University Auditorium with the theme, “The Human of the Future and the Future of the Human’, had the assemblage of products of the department, captains of industries, political office holders and the academia in attendance.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion and LP Gubernatorial Candidate in the last Anambra polls, Hon. Valentine Chineto Ozigbo described the theme of the conference as apt and very timely especially now that the nation yearns for servant leadership. Ozigbo affirmed that Greek philosophers categorize humans in three forms, those who are self-centered and exhibit selfishness as ‘idiots’, those who are conscious of their religion and ethnicity are described as the “tribes people” while those who seek for the common good of man are regarded to as the “citizens.”
Ozigbo averred that there is nothing wrong with the black people but for bad leadership which is the bane of the present society. He stated that beyond leadership and followership there is need for critical thinkers that will help to chart a new course and bring about effective and goal oriented leadership.
Declaring the event open, UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, FAS, described Philosophy as a process which deploys critical questioning, logical thoughts and rational arguments in examining issues. The VC emphasized that the process connotes the tolerance of differences of opinion, the acceptance of differing identities of race, religion, ethnicity, culture and the respect of human rights and dignity.
Esimone also reminded the gathering that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference decided in 2005 to designate the third Thursday of November every year as World Philosophy Day.
In his address, the Head, Department of Philosophy UNIZIK, Prof. Arinze Ubaabunike-Agbanusi informed that UNESCO in year 2002 launched the philosophy day while on October 2005, World Philosophy Day was inaugurated and third Thursday of November every year is set aside for the celebration. Prof. Agbanusi revealed that the UNESCO World Philosophy Day is a day in which philosophy is reaffirmed as the mother of all disciplines for which reason the highest academic degree of the Ph.D which is an acronym for Doctor of Philosophy.
Highpoints of the occasion was award of Philosophy King of the year to Labour Party Presidential Candidate and former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi as well as awards to UNIZIK VC, Prof. Esimone; UNIZIK Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu; Hon. Valentine Ozigbo and the lead paper presenter, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu.
