Senior academicians and high-net worth individuals, recently, gathered at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), to honor the erudite scholar of History and International Studies, Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, with a festschrift titled ‘Africa and the Challenge of Underdevelopment’.
The book presentation, organized by the Department of History and International Studies of the University of Lagos and Penebus University, also featured Osuntokun’s 80th birthday celebration.
The chairman of the event, Chief Olatunde Aluko, Sasore from Ilesa, expressed his happiness as he has been familiar with the celebration since his university days.
While describing the celebration as a wonderful personality who has contributed a lot to the lives of students and friends, Aluko recalled that Osuntokun helped him when he contested for the president of the Hall of residents and won.
Reviewer Festschrift, Prof. David Aworawo, who is the Head, Department of History and Strategic Studies, UNILAG, said the book has 23 chapters, organized into four parts and edited by three scholars, Olufunke Adeboye, Benjamin Anaemene and Benard Fyanka.
He noted that the launch of the book was timely because, “African development has been an important subject for him for decades.”
While commending the efforts of the writers, Aworawo explained that the book contained several solutions to Africa’s problems. He identified some of the problems affecting the growth of Africans as corruption, lack of sincerity of purpose in government, bitter politics, and poor handling of the education sector.
He quoted a section in a book written by Dr. Oluwakemi Adesina and Ayowole Ilugbaju, saying, “education is critical in development. Africa must focus on developing capacity and developing education to be competitive and quality, if Africans experience development.
While recommending the book to everyone, Aworawo expressed optimism that if the suggested solutions are taken up and implemented, Africans will witness progress in all spheres of life.
Pranatacara, on the other hand, thanked him, because he said it was an impressive moment for him to receive the honor in his life.