Nigerian Academy of Letters

March 2015

Nigerian Academy of Letters

Newsletter Editor: Prof. B. R. Badejo

President: Prof. B. Olatunji Oloruntimehin Secretary: Prof. Olutayo Charles Adesina

Volume 6 Issue 1

e-Mail: nalnewsletter@yahoo.com

Fello

NAL 2015 Annual Lecture

Fellows: Olori (Dr.) Olatokunbo Gbadebo, Dr. (Mrs.) Virginia Anohu and Amb. Oladapo Olusola Fafowora, took place immediately after the lecture.

A Luncheon was held at 1.30pm and the scientific session started at 3.00pm in the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos. The Scientific Session Lecturers were Prof. Sola Akinrinade, and Prof. Moses Makinde. The session was chaired by Prof. B. Olatunji Oloruntimehin, FNAL.

The 2015 edition of the Annual Lecture Series will hold at the ETF Lecture Hall of the Delta State University, Abraka on Tuesday 24th March, 2015 at 10am.

The Annual Lecture entitled, Is the Nigerian Critic still “timid?� is to be delivered by Professor Sam Ukala of the Department of Theatre Arts and Drama, Delta State University Abraka.

2014 Convocation and the Investiture Ceremony of Fellows NAL held its 16th Convocation and the Investiture Ceremony of New Fellows at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos on Thursday 14th August, 2014 at 11am.

The Convocation Lecture entitled: The second pledge: Citizenship and the Challenges of Nation Building was delivered by Professor Francis Egbokhare, FNAL.

The investiture ceremony of: (1) two new Regular Fellows: Prof. Festus Agboola Adesanoye and Prof. Philip Adedotun Ogundeji, (2) one Overseas Fellow: Prof.

Olabiyi Yai and (3) three new Honorary

Prof. B. Olatunji Oloruntimehin, NAL President (2014-2016)

2

Executive Committee (2014-2016) AGM, on 15th August 2014, ratified the following election result: Prof. B. Olatunji Oloruntimehin (President), Prof. Olu Obafemi (Vice-President), Prof. Olutayo Charles Adesina (Secretary), Prof.

Maduabuchi Dukor (Assistant Secretary), Prof. Francis Egbokhare (Treasurer) and Prof. Moses Makinde (General Editor).

Automatic members of Ex-co are: Prof.

Emeritus Ayo Bamgbose (Foundation President), Prof. Ayo Banjo (former President) and Prof. Munzali Jibril (Immediate Past President).

Ex-officio members: Prof. Emeritus Tekena N. Tamuno, Prof. Dan Izevbaye Prof. Ben Elugbe and Prof. Umaru Ahmed.

MEMBERSHIP FEE Fellows and Members are hereby reminded to pay up the NAL annual Membership fee of 10,000 Naira (effective 2013).

2014 Fellows’ Night The 2014 Fellows’ Night was held, as usual, on the eve of Convocation at 7.00pm in the Functions Room, University of Lagos Guest Houses. The Guest Speaker, Prof. Moses Makinde, delivered a speech, entitled: “The Academics as reservoir of Professors and Intellectuals”. The speech’s penchant for the supremacy of the Humanities over the Sciences was generally modified by the audience to reflect the current multidisciplinary approach to knowledge.

Prof. Rahman A. Bello, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, was present at the occasion. He was accompanied by his Deputy Vice-Chancellors and other officials.

Tribute to Chief (Dr.) Bayo Kuku, FNAL With the death of Chief Bayo Kuku, NAL has lost a great friend and benefactor, who spared no effort to sustain the activities of

the Academy in its formative years… We owe to him the now famous response: “It is Yesable” to our constant requests. We will certainly miss him. May he rest in peace.

- Ayo Bamgbose,FP

Membership Drive NAL still needs more members. It may be recalled that Ex-co appointed the following to spearhead the membership drive in 2012/2013: N/W/North Central- Prof. Munzali Jibril N/East Prof. Rotimi Badejo South Edo (Ekpoma) -Prof. Egbokhare S/West Prof. Oloruntimehin South East- Prof. E. Nolue Emenanjo East Prof. Romanus Egudu Kogi/Kwara- Prof. Oyin Abogunrin BayelsaProf. Steve Ogude Benin, Igbinedon-Prof. Kester Echenim Cross River- Profs. Eno Urua and David Eka LagosProfs. Stella Johnson & Ayodeji Olukoju

2015 Nominations Nomination forms for Regular and Honorary Fellows (2015) are now available online and at the National Secretariat. Deadline for the return of completed forms to the Secretary is March 24th 2015.

Obituary We regret to announce the passing on of a great pillar of NAL:  Chief (Dr.) Bayo Kuku Ogbeni-Oja of Ijebuland He died on Thursday, 5th and was buried on Friday, 6th March, 2015.

Appreciation NAL uses this medium to express its profound appreciation to:  Alhaji Adebola Adegunwa (for generous financial support)  The Vice Chancellor, Delta State University, Abraka. (for the full support of the 2015 Annual Lecture)  The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the 2015 Lecture.

NAL e-Mail address: nigerianacademyofletters@gmail.com