By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
It was gathering of researchers, professionals, scientists, lecturers, religious leaders, stakeholders and students as the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Gombe State University, held their maiden International conference from August 20-21,2024 at the Multi- Purpose Hall, Gombe
The inaugural International conference, themed “Value System and Core Challenges in the Contemporary Global World,” brought together scholars, researchers, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds to engage in a robust debates on critical issues affecting the world today.
In the communique signed by Dr Yunana Ahmed, who is also the Chairman of the Communiqué Committee of the conference which was made available to PERISCOPE NIGERIA in Gombe, on Wednesday stated that the conference marked a academic success for the faculty.
Ahmed noted that the occasion marked the first international conference the faculty hosted which provided a platform for international collaboration and knowledge exchange that drew participants from various institutions, backgrounds and countries to share their insights on the main theme of the conference and sub-themes, contributing to a rich and multifaceted discourse.
One important point that needed no emphasis was that the conference proceeded amidst ongoing security challenges on the end- bad governance- protest and economic hardships affecting Nigerian people especially the academics hence the successful hosting of the conference demonstrated the resilience and commitment of the academic community in Nigeria.
The conference had keynote address from the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, who delivered a thought-provoking address that challenged participants to reevaluate traditional value systems and embrace African contributions to global solutions.
In his speech , he said that, “Africa must rise up intellectually to sustain forward step through Arts and Social Science Research.” lamenting further that enough of the West and Euro-America should be checkmated while the Lead Paper Presenter, Professor Umaru A.Pate who spoke on “Value Systems and the Transition to Modernity” provided valuable insights into the need for critical re-evaluation of cultural values.
According to the Professor of Media History who is currently the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Kashere Gombe, said it is through critical re-evaluation of our value system that “society needs credible and viable framework to transit itself to modernity.”
In the syndicate sessions which focused on various thematic areas, including language and culture, infrastructure and economy, education technology and society, religion and morality, history and politics, security and development, and administration and development were thought- provoking discussions that fostered in-depth discussions and networking opportunities.
With the syndicate sessions, one can be sure that Nigerian academic discourse is vibrant and innovative while recommending that continued International Conference: is imperative which underscored the importance of fostering international partnerships to address global challenges and the continuation of this kind of conference will sustain that.
In the issue of research and innovation, participants emphasised the need for continued research and innovation to develop effective solutions to contemporary issues which even scholars advocated in the conference while the conference highlighted the urgency of re-evaluating traditional value systems to align with the evolving global landscape.
African contributions, no doubt, is very important to solve their local challenges rather than waiting for donor agencies hence participants called for greater recognition and promotion of African contributions to knowledge and development while the First International Conference of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences was a resounding success, providing a valuable platform for intellectual exchange and collaboration.
Statement added that the insights gained from the conference will undoubtedly contribute to ongoing efforts to address the challenges of the contemporary global world.
Also, the Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya,who is the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum added his voice in the discourse.
Represented by his Deputy Governor,Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, who spoke on the importance of education in the society and pragmatic measures taken his administration to address some of the challenges facing the education sector, lamented “the failure of family systems and religious bodies in ensuring sound morals, which he said is resulting to having more criminals among the educated class and therefore challenged the university champions to use their expertise to suggest possible solution to the socio -economic challenges facing humanity.”
He further that, “need for other means of treating diseases in the country than strictly the orthodox prescriptions, the deputy governor challenged them as researchers to use indigenous Nigerian herbs to produce medicines that can tackle ailments so as to reduce the rate of drugs importation that are beyond the purchase of an ordinary Nigerian.”
