There will be fireworks at the PTI conference centre, Effurun tomorrow(19/4/2023) when some eminent Urhobos led by Professor Prof. Godini Darah, Dr. Ejiro Imuere, Prof Aziza, Chief Hope Erute will speak at a colloquium on Uvwie yesterday, today and a future of rapid social-economic and cultural rebirth
The colloquium which is part of activities marking the 15th coronation anniversary of HRM Emmanuel Ekemejewan Sideso, Abe 1, JP. OON, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom kick off about two weeks ago with a 21 cannon shots. The colloquium will focus on Uvwie before and during the colonial era, the reign of Eruohwo 1 and His Times, the Transformational agenda of Abe 1 and propose steps to be taken in future to sustain the peace in Uvwie as well as proffer ideas on rapid economic, social and cultural transformation of the communities
The Keynote Speaker is renowned professor of oral literature, folklore and cultural sciences, Prof. G. G. Darah, author of several publications among them is the “Urhobo Folklore, Science and Global Knowledge Economy
Discussants are, Prof.(Mrs) Rose Aziza, a colossus of African Linguistics and her views constitute critical touchstones in the study and preservation of indigenous languages. More significantly, Aziza breathed academic life into the Urhobo language. Her pioneering role in the establishment of the Bachelor of Arts degree programme in Urhobo, as well as evolving an academic curriculum for the Urhobo language as a subject in public examinations, carved a place for her in humanistic scholarship.
Others are Dr. Ejiro Imuere,the controversial Wado City advocate who have written extensively on the lower Niger Delta issues. Chief Hope Erute, the President General, Uvwie General Improvement Union(UGIU), Mr Daro Austin Ejumudo, who has done extensive research on pre and post colonial Uvwie and Chief Assin Godstime, the young vibrant Legal Practitioner, cum Historian, Journalist, Novelist, Playwright and Poet. Author of “Up-to-date current affairs on Urhobo nation”. A major feature of Godstime Assin’s classic is the chronicling of the 24 kingdoms into which the Urhobo nation is culturally divided and the over 500 communities contained in these Kingdoms.
The moderator will be Prof. (Chief) Joe Abugu(SAN) a specialist in Company Securities and Secured Credit Transactions. He has consulted in several capacities in public issues and private.
