Emeka Anyaoku, Sanwo-Olu to speak at Anyiam-Osigwe lecture

Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary-general of the Commonwealth, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, are to deliver keynote addresses at the 16th Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe lecture.

George Anyiam-Osigwe, the acting coordinator-general of the Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation, spoke about activities for this year’s edition of the lecture series on Wednesday during a media briefing.

The central theme of the lecture, which is to hold on March 27 in Lagos, is “Rehumanising Human Experience: A Synopsis of Anyiam-Osigwe’s treatises”.

He said Sanwo-Olu and Anyaoku are to join a list of distinguished personalities who have served as keynote speakers at the annual lecture over the years.

While Anyaoku will chair the 16th Anyiam-Ozigwe lecture, Sanwo-Olu will give his perspectives on how to bring love to the state after the ethnic and religious crisis that characterised the just concluded polls in Lagos.

“Today, Nigerians lack love for one another. We grew up without any discrimination – ethnic, religious etc,” he said.

“What is the root cause of this problem? The ethnic and religious crisis that we witnessed in Lagos during the last election is highly condemnable.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu will give his thoughts on how to express love to one another and live like brothers and sisters in a rancor-free society.”

Earlier, the Anyiam-Osigwe Foundation revealed that Boris Johnson, former prime minister of the UK, will speak at the event.

On his part, Kennedy Anyiam-Osigwe said Johnson was picked due to his knowledge of confronting some domestic and global issues.

“There might be conflicting views on why we are having Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson this year. But, in our own analysis, we felt his richly harmed for the topic we want to engage which is Re-Humanising Human Experience,” he said.

“We want to see from his own glasses, from his own thoughts. Controversial as some may, think, but we want to hear what he has to say. It’s coming from that aspect that let’s hear from not just the normal conventional. Let’s see someone who can expand the space and share his thoughts on the topic. That’s the reason we choose Boris Johnson.

“Our choice of Boris is because of the essentiality of the topic. As important as being a complete and loving human with feelings for people and empathy for one another, it is the hot burner topic in today’s world.

“The recent experience of our recently concluded elections is even bringing to the fore the lack of human empathy. Growing up in the 60s, there was no iota of tribal identity. We were just young children growing up in love and peace.

“Where have lost it? It’s for this reason that the foundation thought it germane to look at these critical issues. This is a very important subject on how to take practical steps to re-humanise human existence.”

The foundation said it will offer solutions to some of the global challenges that are currently plaguing the world.

“The world has gone through serious upheavals in the last two decades,” it had stated.

“From the civil war in Syria, political instability in parts of Africa, Brexit that has really tested the United Kingdom and the entire European Union, the trade war between China and America, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are of the strong view that our country and the world can benefit from his experience and perspectives.”