Victor EzejaFormer Nigerian diplomats, Ambassadors Oseloka Obaze and Joe Keshi will be leading discussion at the Prime Business Africa’s colloquium in honour of late Nigerian diplomat, Ejeviome Eloho Otobo who was a Board Director at the multimedia company.
The colloquium taking place today, August 11 at 6pm West African time, will be held virtually.
The theme of the colloquium, ‘The Africa of Ambassador Eloho Otobo’s Dream’, is according to the publisher of the online newspaper, Dr Marcel Mbamalu, geared towards reflecting on the philosophical ideals and pan-African stance of the late diplomat as gleaned from his contributions on socio-economic and governance issues in Africa in the areas of trade relations, policy, and peacebuilding for continental development.
Ambassador Obaze who will be the lead speaker at the colloquium, is a former member of the Nigerian Diplomatic Service to the United Nations, and also a governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2017 Anambra State governorship election.
According to Obaze, he and Ambassador Otobo were friends for four decades and co-authored different publications for close to 30 years.
During a memorial service held in honour of the late Ambassador Otobo at the Nigeria’s foreign mission office in New York on Tuesday August 9, 2022, Obaze in an emotionally thrilling tribute titled ‘The Last Launch: An Ode to Eloho Otobo,’ described his relationship with Otobo, which went beyond the realm of being professional colleagues.
He said “Eloho was humane, warm, sincere and inspirational. He was imbued with sharp wit and genuine bonhomie and being in his presence enveloped you with warmth, and his sincere and jocular laughter. He was a patriot and great conversationalist.
“Eloho was also very cerebral. Collaborating and co-authoring works with him was always exhilarating. He had an acute analytical mind. He was tenacious about research, writing, editing and the veracity of facts. Above all, he was willing to share knowledge, without reserve and always admitted superior logic. He belonged to the class of the very best and brightest in the Nigerian Foreign Service.”
In 2018, both set out to write a book on governance issues in Nigeria which is to be completed.
READ ALSO: X-raying The Intellectual Odyssey Of Ambassador Eloho Otobo With Oseloka Obaze
Ambassador Keshi, who will be a moderator, is a retired Nigerian diplomat and chairman, board of directors of United Bank for Africa. Keshi served as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also worked in Nigeria’s foreign missions in different countries of the world including Togo, Ethiopia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Namibia, Sierra Leone.
Also speaking are the event is Chairman Nigeria in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Laolu Akande (Senior Special Assistant Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Office of the Vice President).
Also joining in the programme as the co-moderator is the founder of African Media Agency, Eloine Barry. Barry is also a member of PBA Editorial Board.
Others to anchor the webinar include Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Newstide Publications Board of Directors, Dr. Bongo Adi, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, as co-hosts.
Dr. Adi is a renowned Nigerian development economist with the Lagos Business School (LBS).
Prof. Okunna, the first female professor of Mass Communication in Sub Saharan Africa, is currently the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Paul’s University, Akwa in Anambra State.
The colloquium will also have in attendance, Prof Pat Utomi, Chairman PBA Editorial Board; Prof. Bashir Abdullahi, PBA Editorial Board Member; Jahman Anikulapo, Newstide Publications Board, and PBA Editorial Board member; Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi of Baze University, Abuja; Rev. Father Vitus Mbamalu, a New York-based Catholic Priest, among others.
Ambassador Otobo, aged 70, died on June 23, 2022, in Tuckahoe, neigbourhood, Westchester County, New York, United States where he has been residing for many years and was buried on July Saturday, July 23 at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Westchester County, New York.
Apart from being a Board Director, Late Otobo was also a member of the PBA Editorial Board of Prime Business Africa where he made invaluable contributions in editorial matters of the online publication.
The programme will also enlist the participation of the family members.
To join and participate in the webinar, click on:
Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/2z95frmk
- It will also be streammed live on Prime Business Africa YouTube channel https://tinyurl.com/PBA-Colloquium-For-Otobo
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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