…as International Africa Day holds in Uyo
By Ime Silas
President of The Pan-African Dialogue Institute (TPADI), Dr. Effiong Joseph Udoh has expressed the Institute’s commitment to promoting the game of golf with a view to encouraging young Africans to create careers out of it.
Dr. Udoh who is also a Director, Centre for Deep Dialogue and Critical Thinking, University of Uyo, dropped the hint yesterday while chatting with newsmen at the University campus shortly after meeting with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the forthcoming International Africa Day Celebrations 2024 and International Conference on Dialogue and Pan-Africanism
Speaking, the University don while highlighting the activities to mark the International events to be held at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria also laid bare the aims, objectives and focus of Pan-Africanism.
“We have just concluded one of our meetings with the Local Organising Committee to fine-tune preparations toward the forthcoming International Africa Day, 2024 and the International Conference on Dialogue and Pan-Africanism”, Dr. Udoh hinted, adding that “The events will be held here at the University of Uyo being the Headquarters of the Institute. We’re expecting so many scholars, captains of industries, business men and women, government functionaries, diplomats, Pan-Africanists and so forth”.
He noted further that “We have line up of activities to mark the event some of which are Paper presentations on topical issues as they affect the welfare and well-being of Africans as people and Africa as a continent. The aim and focus is to conscientize our people on our ideals. We need to intentionally fashion out ways through which Africa would be totally decolonized for the purpose of guaranteeing genuine development and total independence”.
On the Golf Tournament, the TPADI boss said “We believe that Africans can create susteinablenable careers from the game of golf. Of course, I am proud to mention here that the greatest Golfer ever on earth is a black man; an African-American, Tiger Woods. So, The Pan-African Dialogue Institute is committed to encouraging more Africans, especially the youths to embrace the game of golf.
As God would have it, we have great Golfers here in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria. In Akwa Ibom for example, apart from the father of modern Akwa Ibom State; His Excellency, Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah who brought the game of golf to the state through the Golf Resort at the Le Meridien, now Ibom Icon Hotel, we also have great players like Barr. Edidiong Idiong, Barr. Edo Ukpong and Mr. Ime Udoetuk.
“Though I’m not a golfer, but I know that we also have others like Hon. Barr Usenobong Akpabio, Usen Iniko and a host of others at different grades of golf professionalism. So, our target is to partner with all of them within and outside the state with a view to promoting the game here. We have inaugurated a Sub-committee that would carry out the sensitization.
As part of the International Africa Day and the Conference events, there’s going to be a Golf Tournament with a landed property in Abuja as Star Prize for the winner. It promises to be a fantastic event. Other details shall be made available soon by the Sub-committee. But I want to quickly add that TPADI intends to sustain the Golf Tournament beyond the International Africa Day events”