Zik annual lecture: Saraki, Onu, Boss, others urge Nigerians to uphold Azikiwe’s legacies

The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Auditorium, venue of the event, was filled to capacity over the weekend, as lecturers, students and visitors equally graced the occasion.

The event was attended by a former President of Tanzania Mr Benjamin Mkapa who was the guest lecturer at the event, the chairman on the occasion and the Senate President ,Bukola Saraki, the benefactor of the Annual Zik’s Lecture series Chief Ben- Ndi Obi, other Senators, Secretary of the Government of the Federation BOSS Mustapha represented by Obi Dike, Minister for Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu,represented by Professor Paulinus Ugwoke, Governor Willie Obiano represented by the Secretary to the State Government,Professor Solo Chukwulobelul and traditional rulers, among others.

Delivering a lecture on the theme “Taming the monster of corruption in Africa,” former President Mkapa, a third time President of the Republic of Tanzania, went down memory lane on how he tackled corruption in his country, said that corruption which can be described as an abuse of power for personal gain, diminishes growth and development of every nation.

In a remark, the Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki noted, that Zik was the light of the black race judging by the efforts he made for the nation to gain indepence and called on Nigerians to fight corruption with transparency, sincerity and sense of purpose.

Governor Obiano represented by Professor Chukwulobelu who said that the theme of the lecture was apt, maintained, that Anambra has been enjoying good governance since the Inception of former Governor Peter Obi’s administration and said that the present administration enthroned transparency and accountability through the introduction of Single Treasury Account which adjudged Anambra the most transparent state in the country by the world bank.

In their separate speeches, the Minister of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, and the Secretary of the Government of the Federation Mr Boss Mustapha, commended the organisers of the lecture especially the benefactor, Senator Ben Obi, saying that the labours of the heroes past like the late Zik shall not be in vain if all should uphold the legacies they left behind.

The former Governor of the state, Chief Peter Obi, who regretted that corruption kills entrepreneurship, professionalism and hardwork, noted that all hands must be on deck for the fight against corruption.

Earlier in an address, the Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK Professor Joseph Ahaneku said that corruption has been the bane of the socio economic advancement of African nations, urging all to learn from the lecture which seeks to eliminate corruption in the country.

Responding, the wife of the late Zik, Professor Uche Azikiwe on behalf of the family, said that they look forward to every Sixteenth of November when her late husband would be celebrated, thanking all who made the occasion successful.