A cross-section of academia, government and industry will converge in Port Harcourt on May 8 for the centenary of Otonti Nduka, in what stakeholders describe as a defining moment to re-anchor Nigeria’s development agenda on ethics, governance and human capital formation.
The two-day event, scheduled to be held at Rivers State University, is expected to attract more than 1,500 participants, including vice-chancellors, policymakers, corporate executives and civil society leaders.
Organisers say the gathering is designed not only to honour Nduka’s legacy, but also to enhance actionable commitments around values-based education, at a time when concerns over institutional integrity and leadership accountability are intensifying.
“This centenary is not just a birthday; it is a national reckoning with the values that define our progress,” said Prof. Hilary Wordu, spokesperson for the centenary committee.
High-level government participation is expected, with Tunji Alausa, the minister of education,billed as special guest of honour, while Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State governor, will serve as chief host.
A major highlight of the event will be the launch of the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education Endowment Fund, targeting N5 billion to support scholarships, teacher training and research centres across universities.
Grant Offor, chairman of Ramec Group of Companies and Chief Launcher of the fund, said the initiative would focus on sustainable impact. “True wealth builds character first,” he noted, pledging both financial backing and technical expertise.
The intellectual centrepiece will be a keynote address by Kingsley Moghalu, former Central Bank of Nigeria deputy governor, who is expected to examine the erosion of ethical frameworks amid globalisation and technological disruption, while advocating curriculum reforms anchored on integrity and critical thinking.
Legal perspectives will also feature prominently, with former Attorney General Kanu Agabi scheduled to share insights on governance and public leadership.
Nduka, a former president of the Nigeria Academy of Education and recipient of the National Universities Commission’s Distinguished Professor of the Century award, is widely credited with pioneering values education in post-colonial Africa. His work has influenced the integration of ethics into both science and humanities curricula.
Proceedings will begin with a national conference focusing on “Reviving Values in a Digital Age” and “Ethical Leadership for National Development,” before transitioning into cultural showcases and a gala dinner.
