Family members, friends, political associates, and leaders, among other dignitaries, are billed to honour late Oyo state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi at his post-humous birthday.
The event tagged 6th Annual Senator Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable and 74th posthumous birthday will be held on Saturday, December 16.
The keynote speech for this year’s Roundtable titled “Re-Engineering Nigeria for Sustainable Development: Options, Costs, and Prospects” will be presented by Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert.
He is the former Dean of the Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies at the University of Ibadan and the event will be held at the Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre.
The event will be held under the chairmanship of Vice President Kashim Shettima while the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and immediate past Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje will be the special guest of honour.
Other prominent dignitaries expected at the event include, the former governor of Osun state and a leader of APC, Chief Bisi Akande and Governor Seyi Makinde are expected to lead his colleague governors from the southwest states of Ogun, Ekiti and Lagos.
The lists also include, Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Barau Jibrin; Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare.
Traditional rulers expected include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun; the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, among other dignitaries expected at the event.
Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation (SAAF) and the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, Mr Bolaji Tunji said the theme of this year’s lecture was agreed upon by the different stakeholders given the situation in the country.
He said: “In line with the objectives of SAAF, to build a peaceful society by teaching attitudes, skills, and behaviours required for living peacefully with oneself and others, it is important to look at various factors militating against this.
“We need to know what ails our society, what makes a country with vast human and natural potentials continue to struggle to live up to the level expected of her.
“Countries that do not have half of Nigeria’s level of natural and human potential have advanced beyond Nigeria, we need to chat new paths of development after identifying obstacles to Nigeria’s advancement beyond the present level.”
Apart from the lead paper presentation, other prominent scholars and Nigerians who have made marks in their different fields have also been invited to discuss the theme.
They include former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof Duro Oni, Chairman, Federal Civil Service, Prof Tunji Olaopa, publisher of Premium Times, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi and Prof Adeola Adenikinju, professor of Economics and Research Professor at the Centre for Econometrics and Allied Research.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
