Governor Otti to Chair 2026 Fafunwa Educational Foundation Conference
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State is expected to chair the 2026 Fafunwa Educational Foundation (FEF) conference. The 24th annual FEF lecture/symposium will be held at Agip Recital Hall, Muson
Abia State Governor Alex Otti is set to preside over the 2026 Fafunwa Educational Foundation conference. The 24th annual event, themed 'What Does the Research Say?: Mother Tongue Instruction and the Future of Early Education in Nigeria', will take place on September 23 at Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Muyiwa Obiyomi, the foundation's Executive Secretary, announced the conference details, stating that it is open to scholars and the public, and scheduled to commence at 11:00 a.m. with a request for participants to be seated by 10:45 a.m. Obiyomi expressed gratitude towards Governor Otti for accepting the invitation to chair the event, emphasizing his admiration and the significance of his presence in honoring the legacy of the late Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa.
Fafunwa, Nigeria's first indigenous Professor of Education, played a pivotal role in shaping the country's educational policy and advocating for mother tongue education. Fafunwa's daughter, Prof Sheri Fafunwa Ndibe, also welcomed Governor Otti's participation and praised him for his visionary leadership in the educational sector.
Commissioner for Primary and Secondary Education in Lagos, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, will be the guest of honor. The keynote address will be delivered by Prof Francis Egbokhare of the Linguistics and African Languages Department at the University of Ibadan, while the guest speaker will be Prof Angelina Kioko, a multilingual education expert from the United States International University-Africa in Nairobi, Kenya.
A panel discussion on mother tongue education in Nigeria will be led by language experts such as Prof Adeyinka from the University of Ibadan, Dr Ebele Okafor from the University of Lagos, and Dr Hamisu Aliyu from Federal College of Education, Abeokuta. The conference will also include the presentation of postdoctoral awards to recent graduates from various Nigerian universities.
Governor Otti will also unveil an illustrated biography of Fafunwa, authored by Prof Okey Ndibe. Ndibe expressed excitement about displaying the Abia governor's support in honoring the life and achievements of the late Professor Fafunwa.
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