Prof. Okpeh delivers 6th FULafia inaugural lecture

Professor Okpeh Ochayi Okpeh Jr. an expert in African history, has presented his professorial inaugural lecture with a call on Nigerian historians to take the center stage in the battle for national rebirth.

The lecture, titled: “The Historian as a catalyst: history, ideology and the social process,” was held at the Adamu Adamu lecture hall in the Permanent Site Campus of FULafia.

Okpeh argued that historians were, partly, responsible for the state in which history found itself in the scheme of things in Nigeria today.

He said: “We have tended, over the years, to remain silent over issues of national importance, out of a mistaken belief that historian can only have limited role to play in contemporary affairs. A good history is one that explains the past from the standpoint of the present and not in isolation from it.”

The professor of African history lamented that African historians of the 20th century appeared to have paid too little attention to some vital issues and factors in the history of the continent.

He said the decision to shove history off the syllabus of primary and secondary school system in Nigeria has produced a generation “of insurgents, terrorists, kidnappers and bandits who have taken arms against the state and it citizens.”

Professor Okpeh stressed the need for government to priorities historical knowledge in its development plan, reintroduction of history in primary and secondary schools and exploit opportunities inherent in information technology to strengthen research in history and its impartation.

Okpeh has over 100 papers published in journals, books, technical reports and monographs.

Earlier, in his address, the Chairman of the occasion and Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Prof. Shehu Abdul Rahman, described Okpeh “as a good example of an outstanding scholar, whose numerous academic works and presentations attest to his contributions to knowledge in his field.”

Welcoming participants to the occasion, Prof. Josephine Odey, the Chairperson, Inaugural Lecture Committee of the University, said that Prof. Okpeh was, “indeed, a true historian, today you have made history.”

She thanked the vice-chancellor for supporting the committee, commending the members for gracing the occasion.

Okpeh is, currently, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts in FULafia.

The event witnessed the presence of the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, the Vice-Chancellor, Benue State University, (BSU), Makurdi, represented by Prof. James A., Deputy Vice-Chancellor, FUL, Prof. M.S. Audu, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), BSU Chapter, Hon. S. A. Akatu, Prof. C.B.N. Ogbogbo, and many other dignitaries.