TheCable

Tunde Adeniran, former minister of education; Bolanle Awe, a professor; and M.K Yahaya, also a professor are among the scholars that will converge on the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan for the book launch of Odia Ofeimun, foremost poet and gubernatorial aspirant in Edo state.

The event is scheduled to hold at 2pm on Monday.

Ofeimun will read the book entitled: ‘Taking Nigeria Seriously’ at the event. The  679-page publication is a compendium of analyses of issues of contemporary society that have the tendencies of limiting the nation’s growth and representation among the comity of nations.

The critical dissection of the book, put together by the Readers’ Club of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy, (ISGPP) according to the school, is its maiden effort at contributing to the knowledge industry in Nigeria.

The book reading will also have in attendance members of the Club, which include Olabode Lucas, a former dean of Post Graduate School, University of Ibadan; Adesola Ogunniyi, an eminent education scholar; Pai Obaiya, founder of Lead City University founder; and Jide Owoeye, a professor.

Others are Remi Raji-Oyelade, a professor; Bookcraft Publishers’ Bankole Olayebi; newspaper columnist and professor, Ayo Olukotun; and Stephen Lawani.

According to Ofeimun, it is certain that even in the midst of her challenges and problems of existence, many Nigerians would wish that their country is taken seriously.

“Not just for the sake of a continent whose leaders may not be invited to world summits where far-reaching decisions that affect their people are taken, nor for any super power ambitions. The argument is straightforward: Nigeria needs to be taken seriously, first by her unionized nationalities and ethnic fractions whose struggle to catch up with, halt or destroy the advantages of the other have roped themselves into a tragic bind from which they seem to be waiting for or drifting into a second colonialism,” he said.