LEGACY OF CHRISTOPHER OKIGBO - 50 YEARS ON.

THE CHRISTOPHER OKIGBO CONFERENCE
TRENCHARD HALL UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

PROGRAM


INTRODUCTION
2017 marks the golden anniversary of the passage of Christopher Ifekandu Okigbo (16 August 1932– September 1967) the Nigerian poet, teacher, and librarian, who died fighting for the independence of Biafra. He is today widely acknowledged as an outstanding postcolonial English-language African poet and one of the major modernist writers of the 20th century. As part of the year long activities to commemorate his passage, a 2 day Conference is being planned for September 20 and 21 2017 at his alma mater, the University of Ibadan.

SCOPE
The Conference, a collaboration between the Christopher Okigbo Foundation (COF) and the University Of Ibadan through her Departments of Classics and English, will be a two- day event on September 20 and 21 2017 at the University Of Ibadan, Nigeria under the theme, Legacy Of Christopher Okigbo; 50 Years On and several subthemes. A Keynote Address will be delivered by Prof Dan Izevbaye under the Chairmanship of Eze Prof Chukwuemeka Ike while HRH Obi of Onitsha Igwe Achebe will be the Royal Elder of the day. Other eminent personalities expected at the event include, Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka Ambassador Judith Sefi Attah (Okigbo’s widow), Prof JP Clark, members of the Okigbo family, Christopher Okigbo’s friends, colleagues, mentees as well as International and Local writers. Thereafter, Paper Presenters and a Panel of discussants will talk on some of the Subthemes before the floor will be opened for discussions. A brief interlude of Cultural Display and refreshments will spice up the approximately 4 hour program.
The Conference will be rounded up on Thursday September 22 2017 which is the second day of the Conference, there will be Paper Presentations at the Faculty Of Arts building of the University of Ibadan on the Conference subthemes.

Day 1; PROGRAM (10am-2pm)

Chief host - Vice Chancellor, UI
1. Arrival of Guests ……10am
2. Opening Prayers
3. Introduction of Chairman and Guests: MC Ebika Anthony
4. Welcome Address by Chairman COF : Okey Okuzu
5. Chairman’s Opening Remarks : Eze Prof Chukwuemeka Ike
6. Key-Note Address: Dan Izevbaye (30 mins)
7. Cultural/Literary Interlude …10 Minutes)
8. Panel Discussion – (60 Minutes for 6 panellists at 10 minutes each)
Moderator : Molara Wood
Chairman: Prof J P Clarke Okigbo, the Friend and colleague
Prof Wole Soyinka Okigbo, the Friend and colleague
Prof Ebun Ckark Okigbo,the Family Man
Pius Okigbo Okigbo,the Sibling
Chief Alex Ade Ajayi Okigbo, the Teacher
Prof Remi Raji Okigbo, the Poet
Hon Chudi Offodile Okigbo, the Martyr

9. Lunch break
10. General Discussions and Comments (30 Minutes)
11. Chairman’s Closing Remarks
12. Vote Of Thanks by HOD English: Prof O Ogunsuji / HOD Classics Department
13. Group Photographs
14. Departures – 2pm










The Conference will be followed immediately by a “Private cocktail” hosted by Chief Joop Berkhout at Cambridge house, Ibadan assembling Okigbo’s contemporaries, fellow poets, entourage, members of the cultural industry and institutions worldwide that have been instrumental in upholding his memory to date. Cambridge house is very much part and parcel of Christopher Okigbo’s legacy; it was his home while he was the Nigerian representative of Cambridge University Press built in 1960. In 1992 Chief Joop Berkhout (publisher) bought the property and Chris Okigbo was celebrated at the opening in the presence of Dr Pius Okigbo, Wole Soyinka & J P Clark amongst others, where a plaque was unveiled in front of Cambridge House - “Here lived Christopher Okigbo, poet”.


PROGRAM FOR THE RECEPTION (3pm - 5pm)
Arrival of Guests - 3pm
MC Ben Okuzu
Welcome address by host Chief Joop Berkhout OON
Opening remarks by Chairman: Obi of Onitsha Igwe Achebe Agbogidi
Unveiling UNESCO PLAQUE by John Okigbo Onwa and Obiageli Okigbo
Book presentation of new edition of “collected poems” by the Publishers Bookcraft ltd, to be followed with Poetry reading excerpts of Labyrinths by Dr. Abubakar Othman (Professor of English Maiduguri university)
CO Poetry Prize announcement/presentation - Dr Wale Okediran (President Board of Directors)
Vote of Thanks - Dr Emmanuel Omanukwue (Trustee COF) - 5pm
Departures






Day 2. PROGRAM; PAPER PRESENTATIONS (9AM-4PM)
First Panel; (9am-11am)
Chairman; Prof Ayo Banjo

Second Panel; (11.30am-1.30pm)
Chairman; Prof Dan Izevbaye

LUNCH BREAK; 1.30pm-2.30pm

Third Panel; (2pm-4pm)
Chairman; Prof Abdulrasheed Na’Allah

GUESTS of HONOUR
1. Obi of Onitsha Igwe Achebe Agbogidi (Royal Elder)
2. Eze Prof Chukwuemeka Ike (Chairman)
3. HE Governor Abiola Ajimobi (Special Guest of Honour)
4. HE Governor Obiano (Special Guest of Honour)
5. Igwe of Oyo State Igbo Union
6. Vice Chancellor, UI (Chief Host)
7. Prof AbdulRasheed Na'Allah (VC of Kwara State University, Ilorin)
8. (Dean of Faculty of Arts)
9. Prof O Ogunsuji (HOD English Department)
10. Prof Folake Onayemi ( HOD Classics department)
11. Chief P. C. Asiodu (Distinguished Guest of Honour)
12. Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Okwadike ( Distinguished Giest of Honor)
13. AMB Judith Sefi Attah (Panelist)
14. AMB & Mrs Abdullahi Atta
15. Chief Joop Berkhout (Host)
16. Dan Izevbaye - Keynote (Chairman Paper Panel)
17. Prof J P Clark (Chairman of Paper Panel)
18. Prof Ebun Clark
19. Prof Wole Soyinka
20. Prof Ayo Banjo (Chairman of Paper Panel)
21. Prof Remi Raji (Former ANA President)
22. Dr. Abubakar Othman (University of Maiduguri)
23. Mr Ebika Anthony
24. Kunle Ajibade
25. Bankole Olayebi – director Bookcraft ltd
26. Prof Femi Osofisan
27. Mr Denja Abdullahi (ANA President)
28. John Okigbo Onwa (head of James Okigbo clan)
29. Okigbo Family members
30. Demas Nwoko
31. Dr Emmanuel Omanukwue (Panelist)
32. Chief Alex Ade Ajayi (Former Principal, Fiditi Grammar School)
33. Ms Molara Wood (Panel Moderator)
34. Ndidi Nwuneli (Center of Memories)
35. Hon Chudi Offodile
36. Prof Chudi Uwazurike (Former Member of House of Assembly)
37. Mr Funso Omotoso (Chairmn, Association of Nigerian Authors, Oyo chapter)
38. Professor Uzodinma T. Nwala (President, Alaigbo Development Association, Abuja).
39. Mr Ben Ubiri (Chairman ANA Abuja Chapter)
40. Prof Emeka Nwabueze (Director, The Institute of African Studies
41. Dr Chike Okoye (Dept English & Literature UNIZIK)
42. James Eze (association of Awka poets)
43. Prof Pat Utomi

ADMINISTRATION:
Obiageli Okigbo - President, COF
Dr Wale Okediran - Chief Advisor, COF
Okey Okuzu - EXECSEC, Founding member COF
Linda Nwando Renée Okigbo, Treasurer COF
Patrick Oguejiofor - SECGEN COF
Linda Nwando Renée Okigbo- Treasurer, COF
Dr Emmanuel Omanukwue – COF Trustee

My favourite poet