AWARD WINNERS' LECTURES
(i) This is one of the most important programmes of the NNMA, designed primarily to assist in creating the enabling environment in which healthy and intellectual discourse and exchange of ideas are fostered.
(ii) The basic objectives of the Award Winners’ Lectures are to officially and publicly promote the platform for the best and the brightest of Nigerian intellectual laureates to share with their compatriots, the fruits of their intellectual enquiry for national development.
(iii) The lectures are often held in different parts of the country and are mostly organized within University Communities in order to afford the general public and other stakeholders the opportunity to interact with the laureates while contributing to the discussion of our national programmes and priorities. Essentially, each Laureate of NNOM is expected to deliver an Award Winners’ Lecture at least once in his/her lifetime.
Award Winners’ Lectures delivered (1979-1981)
In the period under review, His Royal Highness (Late) Alh. Umar Suleiman, the Emir of Bede was the Chairman of the Governing Board. The following Award Winners’ Lectures were delivered.
- “Nigeria and Legal Development of Emergent Africa” delivered by (Late) Prof. T.O. Elias, NNOM in Lagos, September, 1979;
Professor Telsim Olawale Elias was born on 11th November, 1914. He was educated at C.M.S. Grammar School Lagos, Igbobi College Lagos, the Univerisity College, London and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, London. He was called to the Bar in 1947. Prof. Elias was a distinguished scholar and, legal giant of national and international eminence. He had published many books of quality to his credit. He was an Attorney-General, Minister of Justice and Chief Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Vice Chairman, International Court of Justice, the Hague, Geneva. His books on various areas of law relevant to Nigeria and Africa in general enshrined his face as to the application and extension of various theories of jurisprudence to an evaluation of the jewels of the Nigeria experience with law, order and Justice.
- “Value and Value Orientation in Nigerian Society” Delivered by (late) Prof. T.A. Lambo, NNOM in Lagos, October 1979;
- “presidentialism in Nigeria” delivered by Prof. Benjamin Nwabueze in Lagos; October, 1980.
Award Winners' Lecture delivered (1982-1989)
During the tenure of (late) Alh. Liman Ciroma, the former SGF, as Chairman of the Board, seven Award Winners’ Lectures were delivered. These include:
- “Last Things First: A Re-Appraisal of the Fundamentals of Nigeria’s Development Crisis” delivered by Prof. A.L. Mabogunje, NNOM, in Enugu, June, 1985;
- “What has Literature Got to Do With It” delivered by Prof. Chinua Achebe, NNOM, in Sokoto, April, 1986;
- “Literature in Nigerian Languages and Language Planning in Nigeria: Implications for the Sound Education of Nigerian Youths” delivered by Prof. S.O. Babalola, NNOM, in Benin, December, 1986;
- “The Research Mode: The Technology Hurdles and the Future of Nigeria” delivered by Professor Chukwumelu Nwokolo, NNOM, in Bauchi, April, 1987;
- “Comprehensive Education and Total Development of the Nigerian Citizen” delivered by (late) Alhaji Mohammed Junaidu, NNOM, December, 1987;
- "The Challenges for Nigerian Law and the Nigerian Lawyer in the 21st Century" delivered by (late) Dr. Akinola T. Aguda, NNOM, in Abeokuta, September, 1988;
- “Problems, Crisis of Catastrophe: Any Exit for African Economics in 1990s”? delivered by (late) Dr. Pius Okigbo, NNOM, in November, 1989.
Award Winners’ Lectures delivered between 1990-1994
During this period, Prof. A.L. Mabogunje served as the Chairman, Governing Board. Seven Award Winners’ Lectures were delivered in various parts of the country. The lectures are:
- “Pre-Condition for Agricultural Development in Nigeria” delivered by late Dr. T.S.B. Arisibisala, NNOM in March, 1990;
- “The Past in the Present: The Factors of Traditional Development” delivered by Prof. J.F. Ade-Ajayi, NNOM, in December, 1990;
- “Brain Research and Human Development: Policy Implications for Developing Countries” by Late Prof. B.O. Oshuntokun, NNOM, December, 1991;
- “Speaking in Tongues: Implications of Multi-Lingualism for Language Policy in Nigeria” delivered by Prof. Ayo Bamgbose, NNOM, in Kaduna, May, 1992;
- “Mass Illiteracy is Very Dangerous for Maternal Health” by Prof. K.A. Harrison, NNOM, in December, 1992;
- “Malaria and its Control in Nigeria” delivered by Prof. L. Salako, NNOM, in Calabar, September, 1993;
- “Bridges” delivered by Late Prof. I.O. Oladapo, NNOM, in Lagos, March, 1994.
Award Winners’ Lectures Delivered between 1996-2000
During Prof. Umaru Shehu’s tenure as Chairman, the following Laureates delivered their mandatory Award Winners’ Lectures:
(1) Prof. Anya O. Anya, NNOM “Rebuilding the Foundations: Science, Human Capital and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century A Nigerian Scenario”, in Abuja, 3rd December, 1997;
(2) Late Prof. Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa, NNOM, “Sense and Non-Sense in Nigeria Education” in Lagos, 1998;
(3) Late Prof. A. E. Afigbo, NNOM, “History as State Craft”, in Lagos, 26th August, 1999.
(4) Prof. Oladapo O. Akinkugbe, NNOM, "Hypertension: The Silent Killer; An African Perspective", in Lagos, 1st December, 1999.
Award Winners’ Lecture, delivered between 2000-2006
Under Prof. Anya’s six years leadership of NNMA, the following laureates delivered their mandatory Award Winners’ Lectures:
- Prof. G.A. Makanjuola, NNOM, “Technologies for Creating National Wealth”, in Abuja, 5th December, 2000;
- Prof. E.M. Essien, NNOM, “Haemophilia HIV/AIDS and Heart Attack: Challenges to a Caring Nation”, in Port-Harcourt, June 13th, 2001;
- Prof. A. O. E. Animalu, NNOM, “Basic Research in the Mathematical Sciences: Visions, Struggles and Reflections on the journey to the Abuja Technology Park”, in Abuja, 15th July , 2001;
- Prof. P.O. Ebigbo, NNOM, “In search of the Nigerian Psyche (A Contribution to Nation Building)”, in Enugu 26th September, 2001;
- Prof. J. P. Clark, NNOM, “The Burden not Lifted”, in Abuja, 5th December, 2001
- Prof. Akinwunmi Isola, NNOM, “Limit of Tolerance: The Future of African Cultures”, in Calabar, July, 2003;
- Prof. O.S. Adegoke, NNOM, “Geology: The key to the Wealth of the Nation”, in Abuja, December, 2003;
- Prof. A.I.I. Ette, NNOM, “In Search of the Ultimate Frontiers in Physics”, in Abuja, December, 2004;
- Prof. O. Tomori, NNOM, “Who Cares About Nigeria’s Health: Really Who Cares?, Port-Harcourt, 6th July, 2005;
- Prof. V.O.S. Olunloyo, NNOM, “Project Nigeria and Technology” in buja, 6th December, 2005;
- Prof. Bartholomew Okechukwu Nnaji, NNOM, “Infrastucture as the Basis for Industrialization”, in Anyigba, Kogi State, 16th August, 2006;
- Prof. Alfred A. Susu, NNOM, “Seminal Findings In Reservoir Fluids And Refinery Catalysis Researches” delivered at the University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, FCT on 13th December, 2006
Award Winners’ Lectures, delivered between 2007-Date
Under Proferssor O. S. Adegoke's leadership of the NNMA, the following Laureates delivered their mandatory Award Winner's Lectures:
- Prof. Soji F. Oluwole, NNOM, "The Holy Grail of Transplantation: Strategies in The Development of Acquired Immunological Tolerance Applicable to Clinical Organ Transplantation”. December 2007, Abuja.
- Prof. Tolu Odugbemi, NNOM, “Pathogens and people: Challenges For Effective Diagnostic Laboratory Support In Nigeria”. March 19th 2008, delivered in University of Lagos.
- Prof. Idris Mohammed, NNOM, “Scientific Research and New Knowledge for Development in Sub-Saharan Africa”. August 2008, delivered in Gombe State University.
- Prof. Ladipo Adamolekun, NNOM, “The Governors and the Governed: Towards Improving Accountability For Achieving Good Development Performance”, December 3, 2008, delivered in Abuja.
- Prof. A. O. Falase, NNOM, "...After a Brief illness", April 21, 2009, delivered in University of Lagos.
- Prof. Charlse E. Nnolim, " Morning yet on Criticism Day: The Criticism of African Literature in the twentieth Century", december 2, 2009, delivered in Abuja.
- Prof. Babefemi A. Osofisan, NNOM, "The Muse of Power and The Apologues of Pain: Literature in the forest of a thousand Dystopians".
- Prof. I. Charles Ume, NNOM "Application of Intelligent Mechatronics to Quality Assessments Of Chip Packages, PWBs & PWBAs".
The NNMA has over the years been able to successfully bestow the prestigious NNOM Award on 65 distinguished Nigerians who have passed through the litmus test for the conferment of the Award.
