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UN HEAD, AFRICAN DIGNITARIES TO CONVERGE ON CSU FEB. 23 FOR A MAJOR FORUM ON AFRICA
By Nii Okaijah
Reflecting Chicago State University’s emergence as a global player, the U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan and a number of African dignitaries have accepted invitations to attend the inaugural session of the Abdulsalami A. Abubakar Distinguished Lectures Series at the university on Friday, February 23.
Dr. Ali A. Mazrui, a world-renowned scholar and director of the Institute of Global and Cultural Studies at the State University of New York at Binghamton, will be the keynote speaker of the series, named after the former Nigerian Head of State in recognition of his courage and grace in leading the nation’s transition to democratic civilian rule within a one-year time schedule Mazrui’s topic will be, “Pan Africanism, Democracy and Leadership in Africa: The Continuing Legacy for the new millennium.”
The Lecture Series are being hosted by the Abdulsalami A. Abubakar Foundation, which seeks to provide support for research on democracy and development in Africa. The series are expected to initiate discussions on topics and current issues relating to developing democratic institutions and responsive civil society. It will provide a forum for interaction for people who support the ideals of democracy and friendship in the global community.
Dignitaries from Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea, Togo, Gambia and sierra Leone have accepted invitations to attend the inaugural lecture series at CSU.
“ The largesse of General Abubakar has afforded this opportunity establish the annual program, which is designed to transcend geopolitical and ethnic boundaries in search of humane and peaceful transitions to democracy,” said CSU President Elnora D. Daniel.
“Chicago State is a wholly appropriate intellectual environment in which to raise critical issues relating to democracy and development. The lecture will enhance intellectual exposure regarding international issues affecting the African continent for undergraduate students, as well as the communities served by the university, I am delighted that Dr. Ali Mazrui, who will be the keynote speaker, is a renowned scholar with an international reputation for his prolific works and provocative intellect.”
Daniel expressed the hope that his address would stimulate high-level theoretical and pragmatic discussion.
As part of the lecture series, a fundraising dinner will be held at the Hyatt Hotel to generate money for student scholarships and for faculty conducting research on international issues.
Keynote speaker Mazrui, a Albert Schweitzer professor of Humanities at the State University of New York, is the author of more than twenty books including “Towards Pax Africana: A world Federation of Cultures: An African Perspective”, “Political Values and the Educated Class in Africa”; “Africa’s International Relations” and “The Political Sociology of the English Language.”
Mazrui earned his B.A. with distinction from Manchester University in England, M.A. from Columbia University i New York and a doctorate from Oxford University in England.
Born in Kenya, Mazrui began his professional career at Makerere University, Uganda, where he served as head of the Department of Political Sciences and dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. He has held distinguished faculty positions at the Universities of Jos, Nigeria, Guyana, Michigan/Ann Arbor and at Cornell University.
Mazrui’s numerous awards include the Distinguished Faculty Award of the University of MIchigan/Ann Arbor, and the Distinguished Africanist Award of the African Studies Association of the US.
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