THE Maris Trust Council, MTC, is shopping for who will deliver the year 2023 edition of Maris Annual Public Service lecture, the Secretary of the Council, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo has said.
Egugbo, in a chat with some journalists in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria on Sunday, disclosed that MTC, has started receiving nominations for those who will play different roles in the annual lecture series which is used as a platform to proffer solutions to the challenges of the society.
He said, “we wish to thank the general public, particularly, well meaning Nigerians for sustaining the Maris Annual Public Service lecture series through their active participation in several ways that include but not limited to nominating who will deliver the annual lecture and actively contributing to the lecture by asking questions and also, making contributions on how to make the society better.
“2023 is another election year, a determining year for the future of Nigeria and typical of MTC, serious-minded Nigerians have started suggesting names of people who are capable of delivering this year’s lecture; the nomination for the Guest Lecturer shall close on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
“Gentlemen, as you are aware, the lecture is of two segments – the lecture proper and the discussion segments, so, we shall make known to the public in the next couple of days the person who will deliver this year’s lecture after the close of nomination.
“Once we get the guest speaker and the lecture topic, a window will be opened again for the public to nominate likely discussants for the topic and with such, we shall be set for the lecture which will hold on its traditional date of Wednesday of the Holy Week, that is, the Wednesday before Easter Sunday – Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at 12 noon prompt in Asaba, Delta State.
“The Chairman and members of Maris Trust Council, MTC, appreciate those who have played key roles and are still playing important roles in the Maris Annual Public Lecture series.
“In particular is the Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who appointed me, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, as his Special Assistant on Media after the 2019 edition of the public service lecture; it is also, worthy of note that though, the lecture was been organised at the main hall of Orchid Hotel, Asaba, Governor Okowa, who has always played the role of Special Guest of Honour at the annual lecture series have consistently, made the Unity Hall, Government House, available as venue for the lecture series; this act of generosity cannot be quantified as it shows a man who believes in enthroning an egalitarian society and one with human kindness; we say, thank you, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and may God continue to reward you through Christ our Lord. Amen.
“In 2019, after the general elections just as we are having this year, Chief Williams Makinde delivered a lecture on the topic, ‘Managing Post-Election Challenges: Nigeria As A Case Study,’ that lecture was designed to calm frail nerves after the elections and it provided an avenue for those who won and lost in the elections to meet, a healing process as it was called by some persons commenced and so far, the lecture series is meeting its objective of working for a better society.
“We are in another election year; who will deliver the lecture? What topic is he or she going to speak on? Who are the likely discussants? Will Dr. Kemi Emina return as the Moderator? These are some of the questions we have been getting from our public but as usual, relying on God, the MTC shall get it right for the society.
“We are grateful to those who have played several roles in our previous lectures which included guest speakers, discussants, chairman of occasion, father of the day, mother of the day, the matured audience that cuts across all walks of life and our Spiritual Adviser, Very Rev. Fr. John Konyeke.
“Gentlemen, my dear colleagues, members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, to say that your are worthy partners in progress will be an understatement as we would not have come this far without you believing in our course, at times, playing the devil’s advocate for us to get it right, as such, we say, thank you and please, remain with us and keep supporting us to make the world better than we met it.
“Permit me to on behalf of the Chairman and members of MTC, thank such personalities who have participated actively in the lecture series, Chief Monday Onyeme who spoke on the topic, Effective Tax Administration For The Delivery of Democratic Dividends; Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie-Agas, who spoke on the topic, Selfless Service: A Phenomenal Virtue and others.
“Such worthy Nigerians who believe in a country that works like High Chief Nicholas Chizea The Onyeogali bu dike of Ahaba – may his soul rest in peace), Sen. Stella Omu, Dr David Oba, Ms Faith Nwadishi, Mrs. Josephine Kachikwu, Chief Kennedy Kanma, Dr (Mrs) Comfort Omon-Irabor, Barr. Orezi Esievo, Mr Peter Mrakpor (SAN), Mr Emeka Anthony Odo, Dr. Shefiu Abiodun Muritala, Hon. Tony Elekeokwuri, Ambassador Godson Echegile, OFR, Rt. Hon. Justus Mogekwu, Dr. Mrs. Cecilia Ibru, OFR, MFR, Hon. Eta Enahoro (His Excellency), Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Chris Ekabo, Hon. Shimite Bello and Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, and others deserve accolade for the roles they are playing in the success stories of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture series.
“Kemi Emina Ph.D, has distinguished himself as an orator, a communicator and a scholar and already, regular participants at the lecture have been requesting to see him again in this year’s edition; Dr Emina, thank you and may God continue to bless you.”
Asked if the election will not affect the lecture, Egugbo said, “we are all participating in the electoral process and our desire is to have a society where there is food on the tables of the people, shelter for the people and a healthy people, so, the elections will not affect the lecture negatively, rather, it will affect it positively as it will provide the first avenue for Nigerians to come together after the elections to discuss, jaw jaw, know where we have erred and proffer solutions for us to have a better society; this is why we always give an open window for Nigerians to choose who will deliver the lecture.
“Some persons are already suggesting names of foreigners to come and deliver the lecture but the MTC is limiting the Guest Speaker for now to Nigerians whether at home or in the Diaspora so far the persons will be personally present at the venue of the lecture.
“In all, we rely on the unseen hand that makes all things perfect, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and however the lecture goes, we will give Him thanks always.
“Gentlemen of the press, my brothers in the pen-pushing profession, thank you and please, join other Nigerians to pray for us to have a successful year 2023 Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.”
