The Esan ethnic nationality, located in the central senatorial zone comprising five local governments of Edo State, is planning a crucial four-day conference with the theme Esan and National Development that will shape the vision and direction of the highly resourceful and frontline group in the coming years.
Slated to hold in November this year in Ekpoma, some 45-minute drive north of the state capital, Benin City, the conference featuring discourses in different areas of life, will be attended by 500 participants drawn from the academia, professionals, traditional rulers, politicians, women, youth, the physically challenged and prominent sons and daughters in the Diaspora.
Holding under the auspices of Ikolo Esan, a recently floated socio-cultural organisation, in partnership with other Esan groups like the Association of Esan Professionals (AEP), the conference will feature talks in the areas of Education, Arts, Culture, Infrastructure, Environment & Erosion Control, Agriculture and Health Care Development.
Others sub-themes include Employment Generation, Skill Acquisition, Solid Minerals, Water Resources, Security, Tourism and Local Government Administration.
A statement signed by Professor Gabriel Oteze and Mr Oshodin F, Etayo, chairman and secretary respectively of Ikolo Esan, says leading academics like Professor John Osemeikhian, former vice chancellor, Ambrose Alli University and Professor George Akpede, former chief medical director of Otibho Specialist Hospital, Irrhua will grace the event.
Others include Patrick Onolememen, a professor of Agriculture, Omo Ojugo also a professor of Education at Ambrose Alli University, Leo Otoide, a professor of History, Sylvanus Ebohon, a professor of Political Science, both of the University of Benin and Philomena Ozo Eson, a professor of Sociology at the University of Abuja.
Also to render a keynote address is a famous Writer and Poet, Mr Odia Ofeimun, former private secretary to renowned Elderstateman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo while Mr Emmanuel Ijewere, a top corporate and business guru and Dr Ona Ekomu, an acclaimed security expert will also speak at the event.
Esan, reputed as the ancestral home of many distinguished sons and daughters, in different sphere of life in Nigeria, have a proud history of producing prominent political figures like foremost politician and Elderstateman, Chief Anthony Enahoro, who moved the popular motion for self independence in 1956.
A former minister both at the defunct Western Region and the Central Government, Enahoro was also the leader of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a group which played a significant role in ending military dictatorship in the country.
Others with Esan ancestry include Professor Ambrose Alli, former governor of defunct Bendel State, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbo, former governor of Edo State, Chief Shaka Momodu, a frontline politician of the First Republic, Chief Anthony Anenih, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tom Ikimi, a former Foreign Minister, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, a former military vice president and radical intellectual and former President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Festus Iyayi among others.
Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Conference, Mr Tony Iyare, an International Journalist and former Media Adviser to Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole says deliberations at the event which will be very stimulating are expected to be published in a book for further dissemination. “It will set an agenda for rekindling development in Esanland”, he says.
Ikolo Esan, a group primarily set up to promote Esan interest believes “the conference will provide the forum for the Esan to critically examine issues and strategies that will advance her interest and place not only in a multi-ethnic Nigeria but in an increasingly digital and dynamic global world”.