By Edun
Students Historical Society of Nigeria (SHSN), UI Chapter celebrated the much anticipated Black History Day on the 1st of April, 2023. The programme which was held in the SLT of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan was themed “AFRICA AND AFRICANS”.
While welcoming everyone to the programme, History’s Head of the Department, Professor Olaniyan, in his address gave insight into the importance of history as a course of study and as the bedrock of the human past. He also implored all present at the event on the need to address the Neocolonisation of Africa and promote Africa, Africans, and our Africaness.
“I must also let you know that the issue of decolonization is yet to be ratified in Africa because many territories are still under colonial influence as we speak. So as Africans, we must work together in strengthening our International institutions, especially the African Union, and ECOWAS in West Africa. We must continue to work hard for the development of our Africa, everything is not about emigration because in the end it mostly results in brain drain”, he stated in his address.
In his special lecture on the theme, the guest speaker, Prince Tunde Odunlade remarked that the redemption of Africa is what every African must be keen on and take as a collective responsibility. In his words, “We need to understand that if we fail in carrying out our responsibility as Africans, nobody will do it for us. We must learn how to take our destiny into our hands. Enough of all the bad politics and governance, enough of taking religion as a business enterprise, enough of underfunded education that will never take us to our deserving position, and poor economy. We have to recognize our thoughts”.
The event also featured several performances like paper presentations, cultural art performances, spoken words poetry, and film documentary by students to entertain and teach the audience one lesson or another.
