THE search for a suitable prominent person who will deliver the year 2025 edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture has begun.
The Secretary, Maris Trust Council, organisers of the annual public service lecture series, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, made the disclosure on Saturday in a statement he issued in Asaba, Delta State.
According to him, the lecture series, from its inception in 2019, has been driven by members of the public who suggest topics, keynote speakers and likely discussants for the lectures which identify societal challenges and proffer solutions to them.
He said, “we wish to inform the world that the search for who delivers Year 2025 edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture has commenced.
“The Maris Trust Council, MTC, met on Friday, 20th December, 2024, and resolved that we should inform the public about the need for them to nominate who will deliver the Year 2025 edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture which will hold on its traditional date of Wednesday of the Holy Week, that is, Wednesday before Easter Sunday and which, for next year’s edition, Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
“At the meeting which was presided by the Chairman, Maris Trust Council, Chief Kenneth Olise, FCA, the public was commended for participating actively in the lecture from choosing the Speakers, topics for discussion, discussants and those who will play active roles in the lecture – Chairman of Occasion, Mother of the Day, Discussants, and also, for participating actively at the lectures.
“MTC expressed joy that the lecture is meeting with its objective of proffering solutions to the challenges of the society.”
He added, “It is worthy to note that the present Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, had delivered the lecture where he spoke on the topic, “Effective Tax Administration For The Delivery Of Democratic Dividends”; the Commissioner for Finance Delta State, Sir Fidelis Okennmor Tilije – “Provision Of Infrastructure As Catalyst For Growth Of Democratic Governments”; Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas – “Selfless Service: A Phenomenal Virtue” , and Chief Williams Makinde –
“Managing Post-Election Challenges: Nigeria As Case Study.”
Former Governors of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, have attended the lectures as Special Guests of Honour, while the incumbent Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has also, graciously, approved the use of Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, as venue for the lecture.
Egugbo expressed confidence that people from different parts of the world would participate in next year’s lecture, disclosing that while new topics would be evaluated, the Trust Council would also delve into a pool of topics suggested in the past and the likely Guest Speakers for the most suitable to be chosen for the next edition.
Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Chief Godson Echegile, Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie, Real Estate developer, Chief Kennedy Kanma, Chief Nicholas Onyeogali Chizea, have also physically attended the lecture as Chairman of Occasion at the respective editions.
Visitor cum Co-founder of Michael and Cecilia Ibru University in Delta State, Dr (Mrs) Cecilia Ibru, the wife of former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Lady Esther Elue, Lady Roseline Eno Amioku, Dr. (Mrs) Comfort Omon-Irabor, Mrs Josephine Ada Kachikwu, were, at different times, Mother of the Day at Maris Lectures, while former Bishop of Asaba Diocese of Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Justus Mogekwu, and the Rev. Fr. John Konyeke have been Fathers of the Day, at the lectures.
Professor Kemi Emina has consistently, moderated the discussion segment of the lecture which features four professionals from different fields of life as Discussants.
Egugbo said that the question some people are asking is, ‘who are those that will fit in to address the world through Maris Lectures platform in 2025?”, of which he answered, “God will use His people to decide because it is our collective duty to make the world better than how we met it.”
