Timeless Newspaper Holds Sixth Nigeria Lecture Series

PRESS RELEASE

In what promises to be another platform for elevated intellectual discourse, the sixth in the series of the TIMELESS NIGERIA LECTURE SERIES organised by TIMELESS NEWSPAPER will hold on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at the Agip Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos at 1.00pm. Every year, TIMELESS celebrates its existence through The TIMELESS Nigeria Lecture Series. The series of annual lectures/national discourse also serves as the organisation’s own way of contributing to national issues and as its own service to the nation.

The first in the series of lectures took place in June 2004 when the media house celebrated its first anniversary with a lecture titled “True Federalism in Nigeria”, delivered by erudite constitutional scholar and professor of law, Itse Sagay. Supporting him as a discussant was Professor Jide Oshuntokun, a professor of History. The occasion was chaired by Professor Joe Irukwu, a respected statesman and former chairman of the Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo. This was followed in June 2005 with another successful lecture with the theme, “Resource Control in Nigeria”, delivered by Professor Mike Ikhariale, a respected constitutional lawyer with Professor Adele Jinadu, a respected political scientist of the Centre for Advanced Social Science acting as a discussant. The occasion was chaired by Dr. Gamaliel Onosode, former chairman of Dunlop and a respected statesman. The third annual lecture of the company took place in August 2006 with the theme “Nigeria: The Future?” delivered by Senator Udoma Udoma, former chief whip of the Nigerian Senate. Honourable Usman Bugaje, formerly of the Federal House of Representatives, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos state Attorney General and Professor Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School were the discussants. The occasion was chaired by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General.

In 2007, the company had its fourth anniversary lecture, which was rechristened, The TIMELESS Nigeria Lecture Series, with the theme, “Nigeria: What Next?” Chairman of the occasion was Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, immediate past Executive Governor of Lagos State. Speaker at the occasion was Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Minister in the Presidency and of The Federal Capital Territory. The discussant was in the person of Mrs. Diezani Allison Madueke, former Minister of Transport and now of Solid Minerals. The fifth annual lecture held in September 2008 had the theme, “Transforming the Nigerian Economy” and was delivered by Mr. Donald Duke, immediate past Executive Governor of Cross Rivers State. All the lectures attracted personalities from different strata of the Nigerian society; were well covered by the national media and stimulated interest and discourse on important national issues dominating Nigeria’s national life.

The topic of this year’s lecture is The Imperative of Electoral Reform and is billed to be delivered by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, former External Affairs Ministry and Member, Presidential Electoral Reform Committee and Chairman, Presidential Think Tank. Supporting him as discussants are Prince Chibudom Nwuche, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Dr. Reuben Abati, Chairman, Editorial Board of the Guardian Newspapers. Special Guest of Honour is His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Executive Governor of Lagos State. The event will attract the cream of the Nigerian society, members of the diplomatic corps, the media and is open to the general public.