Organisers of the Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards, Pacesetter Frontier Magazine have announced the selection of Nigeria's Senate President from 2003 to 2005, Sen. Dr. Adolphus Wabara as the Chief Guest of Honour.

Ad

Sen. Dr. Adolphus Wabara is a Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as the 10th president of the Nigerian Senate from 2003 to 2005.

Wabara had previously been a member of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and a House of Representative member for Abia State in the 3rd Republic. He proceeded to join the People's Democratic Party in 1998 and was elected as Abia South's senator in the Nigerian Senate for two consecutive tenures. He was educated in the Soviet Union, at the Kyiv State University where he graduated with a Master of Arts in International Relations with distinction.

After his re-election in the 2003 general elections, Wabara was elected as the President of the Nigerian Senate.

Within his first 100 days as the Senate President of Nigeria, the Senate worked with the Ministry of Finance, led by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala to mitigate Nigeria’s foreign debt. This resulted in thirty-billion-dollar debt relief.

In August 2003, the Wabara-led Nigerian Senate passed the Universal Basic Education Bill to ensure that every child in Nigeria had the right to basic education. Other bills proposed by his administration were the Media Practice Bill, the Acts Authentication Amendment Bill, the Petroleum Inspectorate Commission Bill, and many others.

After obtaining a Ph.D. in Human Resources at the Micheal Okapara University of Agriculture, he was appointed by then Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Abia State University in 2015. He served in that capacity for two tenures with achievements in the electrification of the university, as well as a collaboration between the university and "Excellence in Education," London. This initiative was geared toward providing the students of the university with capacity-building and collaborative research opportunities. 

He is considered by all rights as an elder statesman.

He is the incumbent Chairman, Board of Trustees of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party. Between 2018 to 2022, he was also the Secretary of the PDP BOT. He is also a member of the Institute of Public Relations in London.

Ad

Reemphasizing on the topic of the public lecture as "The Post Subsidy Economy - Exploring Bold Initiatives For Economic Recovery In Nigeria", the organisers stated their readiness to host all guests.

The Keynote speaker will be Ike Neliaku, Ph.D, fnipr, ficmc, President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

The event will also feature the commemoration of, and an exposé on the 74th anniversary of the Coal Miners Massacre by renowned Historian, Ozor Dr Ferdinand Anikwe, KSJI, JP.

Msgr. Prof. Obiora Ike and Mr. Emeka Mba, CEO of Afia TV & Radio and a former Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission have both been named as Co-Chairmen of the event.

The Guests of Honour are Rt. Hon. Prince Ofor Chukwuegbo (Member, 9th National Assembly), Dr. Ben Nwoye (Ex Enugu State APC Chairman; Ex Federal Commissioner, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission) and Rt. Hon. Chima Obieze (Ex Enugu State House of Assembly Member). 

While The Rt. Rev. Dennis O. Mark (Methodist Bishop of Awkunanaw Diocese) will be the Spiritual Father of the Day, HRM Igwe Godwin N. Madu, JP (Mbaogu 11 of Mbaogu Kingdom & Ezeala 111 of Achi) and HRH Igwe Barr. R.S.N Ezeh (Chairman, Enugu North Traditional Rulers Council) will be the Royal Fathers of the Day.

Awards will be presented by Hon. Uchenna Ejim (Executive Chairman, Nkanu West LGA).

The details of the event are:

Date: Saturday, November 18, 2023.

Venue: Hotel Sunshine, Presidential Road, Independence Layout, Enugu.

Time: 11am (Green Carpet)

While also calling on corporate bodies and good spirited Nigerians willing to partner with the magazine to reach out, the organisers listed and thanked corporate bodies, establishments and businesses who were already official partners of the event.

Gold: Human Development Center, Odengene Airshuttle Services Limited.

Silver: 9th Holdings Nigeria Limited, Horizontal City Property Developers Limited. 

Bronze: OPEANS Nigeria Limited.

Others: Darah Brand and One Stewart Ventures Limited.

Media: Afia TV, AnchorNews, CEO Media Agency and See Enugu Media.

The event will be streamed live across social media; Facebook, Youtube, Zoom and Google Meet.