As part of activities to mark the 2025 Founder’s Day Celebration of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), the institution is set to hold the 2nd Edition of the Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara Lecture.
The lecture which was initiated by the 6th Vice Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Prof Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, is a way to relive the legacies of the legendary Premier of the defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria, late Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara, who was renowned for his agricultural revolutionary policies in the eastern region.
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In commemoration of the event, the MOUAU would be playing host to political leaders, government officials, policy makers, entrepreneurs and business moguls in the agriculture sub-sector and the academia from the South East.
The Institution’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Ubadire Agua, in a Press Release, said the event would hold on Friday, May 2, 2025, by 12pm at the main bowl of the newly completed and furnished Modern Public Lecture Theatre.
According to the Release, the 2nd Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara Lecture, entitled, “Agripreneur Model for Attainment of National Food Security and Economic Development: The Dr. M. I. Okpara Approach in Retrospect – Leveraging the South East Development Commission (SEDC) as a Modern Vehicle for Legacy Continuity”, would be delivered by the Chairman of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Chief Dr. Emeka Wogu, under the chairmanship of the Senator representing Abia Central Zone, Col. Austin Akobundu (Rtd.).
“The Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, will serve as the Chief Host, while the University’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Comrade Fidelis C. Edeh, will be the official Host. Chief Uzodinma Okpara, son of the late Premier, will serve as Co-host”, it stated.
The release further disclosed that other events lined up for the celebration would include an interdenominational thanksgiving service and a special Alumni session, both scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the Senator Anyim Pius Anyim Auditorium. The thanksgiving service would begin at 10am, followed by the Alumni session at 1:30pm.
Recall that the inaugural lecture, which was delivered in May 2023 during the University’s 30th anniversary, featured Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the current Governor of Anambra State and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The year’s lecture would further help to promote discourse on agripreneurship, as a tool for sustainable national development, drawing from the ideals and philosophy of Dr. M. I. Okpara.
