Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has been named the Chairperson of the 30^th anniversary of the annual Obafemi Awolowo Posthumous Birthday Lecture.

The lecture, titled, ‘Values for Africa’s Development’, will be delivered by Rt. Rev. (Professor) Adedapọ Aṣaju, scholar and former Vice-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University.

The event, which is scheduled to take place via zoom on Sunday, March 6, 2022, (Meeting: ID 851 0178 9100; Passcode: 942711) at 6:00pm (Nigerian time) will appraise the key values needed for the advancement of the African continent.

This forms part of a series of events scheduled to celebrate the intellectual legacy of Obafemi Awolowo who “translated from a partisan politician to a universal ideal, the moment he departed from this mortal realm.”

Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo (GCFR) was a Nigerian nationalist and statesman who played a key role in Nigeria's independence movement, the First and Second Republics and the Civil War.

According to the Executive Director of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr. Awolowo Dosumu, “Our aim is to use these events to review our journey so far, in terms of faithfulness to our mission and desired impact, and to reflect on our present realities in order to appropriately prepare for the journey ahead.”

Former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) will be the Special Guest of Honour.

The lecture will be anchored by Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Industrialisation (AfDB), and Professorial Fellow, United Nations University.

According to Dr. Dosumu, "other events in connection with our 30^th anniversary will be unveiled in due course."

“We look forward to welcoming you, virtually, on March 6,” he added.