Afe Babalola, Soyinka to speak at Lagos conference

Afe Babalola, a notable lawyer, and Wole Soyinka, prominent scholar, are among the guests expected to speak at the first Goke Omisore’s VOR Lecture on Knowledge-Based Society.

Omobola Johnson, a former minister, and Oye Ibidapo-Obe, are among the dignitaries that will attend the conference scheduled to hold at Agip Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on February 19.

The Lecture which is being organised by a Yoruba Intelligentsia group, the Voice of Reason Advocacy for Social Development Foundation, fondly called VOR in honour of its founder, the late Goke Omisore, has as its theme: “Restructuring – Building a Knowledge-Based Society”.

“While we consistently push toward a restructured Nigeria, we need to let the government and relevant stakeholders understand that this is the era of ideas, innovations, creativity and digital communications therefore, there’s need to fund research and innovations in this country if not, danger looms,” the organisers said in a statement.

“We are putting this event together to free up the creative energies of the people of Nigeria especially the younger generation and domesticate responsibility and accountability. We want a Nigeria where people, through innovations, can creatively compete with global economies against the current trend of consuming without building.”

The statement added that all the vice-chancellors and rectors of government-owned universities and polytechnics in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states have been invited as special guests at the event.

Kufo also said due to limited space and resources, the Students Union Leaders of Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, University of Ibadan, Lead City University, Ibadan, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Federal University of Agriculture and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta were invited to attend the lecture which will kick off at 10am.