ASAP is proud to announce that its West African Chapter will be hosting its first symposium on January 27th at the University of Lagos. The one-day symposium, titled Political Campaigns Funding and the Looming Tsunami of Poverty, will investigate the impact of political corruption on democracy, development, and access to human rights in Nigeria. In particular, it will investigate the connection between corruption and the country\’s rising poverty rate. Looking towards the general elections scheduled to take place later this year, the event will bring together scholars, activists, and development practitioners to discuss how corruption can be confronted. This event is co-sponsored by Premium Times, Nigeria\’s leading online investigative newspaper, which will report on the symposium discussions.
Akin Oyebode, Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence at the University of Lagos, will give the keynote address. Other notable speakers include ASAP President Thomas Pogge, Innocent Chukwuma of the Ford Foundation, and Dr. Hussein Abdu of ActionAid Nigeria.
The full schedule is available below. For more information, please contact oluwaseunolanrewaju@asapwestafrica.org.
Program for the Public Discourse on Political Campaigns Funding and the Looming Tsunami of Poverty in Nigeria
Date: January 27th, 2015
Venue: Julius Berger Auditorium
Time: 10:00 am — 2:00 pm
10:00-10:30: Courtesy Call on the Vice Chancellor
10:30-10:45: Arrival of guests at the Auditorium
10:45-11:00: Opening and Introduction of Guests
11:00-11:05: Welcome Address by Professor Thomas Pogge, President of ASAP
11:05-11:15: Chairman’s Opening Remarks by Professor Adebayo Ninalowo
11:15-11:20: Remarks by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Rahaman Ade Bello
11:20-11:30: Public Discourse as a University of Lagos Tradition by The Speakers Society
11:30-12:00: Keynote Lecture by Professor Akin Oyebode
12:00-12:10: Culture of Impunity and Democratic Consolidation by Mr Innocent Chukwuma, Ford Foundation
12:10-12:20: Remarks on Keynote Lecture by Mr Femi Fani-Kayode
12:20-12:30: The Media\’s Watchdog Role in Society by Professor Ralph Akinfeleye
12:30-12:40: The Dividends of Democracy and Poverty by Dr Hussein Abdu, Action Aid
12:40-12:50: Remarks by Mr Femi Aribisala
12:50-1:00: Investigative Journalism and Democratic Consolidation by Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, Premium Times
1:00-1:10: Remarks by Mr Femi Falana, SAN
1:10- 1:20: Brief Talk on ASAP, West Africa by Dr Ibraheem/Tejumaiye
1:20-1:50: Contributions from Participants
1:50-2:00: Closing