For the fourth year in a row, FirstNews is gearing up to celebrate its anniversary with a thought-provoking and stimulating public lecture. This time, the event will focus on the development of the Niger Delta region, with the theme “Building the Niger Delta of Our Dream: With or Without Oil”.
Scheduled to take place on October 4th, 2024 at the prestigious Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, the event will bring together distinguished individuals and experts to share their insights and expertise on the topic at hand. Among the special guests expected to grace the occasion are the Governors of Rivers and Bayelsa States – Governor Siminialayi Fubara and Senator Douye Diri respectively.
The keynote address will be delivered by renowned economist and management expert, Prof. Pat Utomi, who is also the Founding Senior Faculty of Lagos Business School. With his wealth of knowledge and experience, Prof. Utomi is sure to captivate the audience with his insights on the development of the Niger Delta region.
In a statement by the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of FirstNews, Dr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the choice of the theme for this year’s public lecture was born out of the need to reflect on the missed opportunities for development in the region and the urgent need to take action towards its growth. He further emphasized that the event is not meant for mere lamentation and hand-wringing, but rather to stimulate constructive dialogue and brainstorming on the way forward.
Other distinguished speakers at the event include Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, and a team of experts who will participate in panel sessions to discuss and proffer solutions on the development of the Niger Delta. The audience can expect to engage in meaningful conversations and exchange of ideas during these sessions, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and potential solutions for the region’s development.
As Dr. Iworiso-Markson puts it, “there can be no better time than now for us to rethink the future of the region”. With a rich history of a thriving economy, long before the discovery of oil in Oloibiri in 1956, the Niger Delta has a lot to offer beyond its oil resources. This public lecture aims to shift the focus from oil to other potential areas of development and explore ways to unlock the region’s full potential.
The 4th Anniversary Public Lecture of FirstNews promises to be a thought-provoking event that will spark meaningful discussions and ideas towards the development of the Niger Delta region. It is a timely reminder that with or without oil, there is still hope for a brighter future for the Niger Delta.
