The Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Uduma Uduma, has cautioned against reducing universities to mere certification centres, stressing that they must remain communities committed to truth, critical thinking and service to humanity.
Prof. Uduma delivered the warning on Thursday in Abuja during the 80th birthday celebration of Emeritus Professor Godwin Sogolo. This event also saw the presentation of Prof. Sogolo's book, Philosophy, Human Values and Development in Africa, in honour of his lifelong contributions to philosophy and higher education.
Represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Gideon Omachonu, the Vice Chancellor said the National Open University of Nigeria places high value on scholars of Prof. Sogolo's calibre. "At the National Open University of Nigeria, we deeply value scholars of Professor Sogolo's standing, men and women who remind us that universities are not merely centres for certification, but communities for the pursuit of truth, critical thinking and service to humanity," he stated.
He described the occasion as a celebration not just of longevity but of scholarship and service. "Today, we are not merely celebrating longevity; we are celebrating a life of intellectual depth, academic courage and enduring service to philosophy, scholarship and humanity," Prof. Uduma said.
The Vice Chancellor noted that Prof. Sogolo belongs to a rare generation of scholars whose works have shaped intellectual discourse in Nigeria and beyond. "He belongs to that rare generation whose works not only interpret society but help shape intellectual discourse in Nigeria and beyond. As a philosopher, administrator, manager and public intellectual, Prof Sogolo exemplifies what it means to combine rigorous scholarship with moral clarity and institutional leadership," he said.
In his remarks, Prof. Sogolo reflected on the development of African philosophy and the importance of documenting indigenous ideas. "There is Indian philosophy, European philosophy, and so forth. Africa is no different. Africa has its own philosophy," he said, emphasising that philosophy cannot be separated from culture and lived experience.
He pointed out the limitations of oral tradition in preserving ideas. "Ideas are not sustained, or are difficult to sustain, via oral tradition. So most of the ideas we have in Africa filter away because they are not documented," he noted.
