FUL-ICEEH Hosts 3rd International Academy Conference, Reclaims African Identity and Spirituality

The Federal University Lokoja’s International Centre of Excellence in Environmental Humanities (FUL-ICEEH) convened its 3rd International Academy Conference, themed “Codex, Liturgy, Rituals, Holy Sites, Saints and Ancestors, Theology Arts and Symbols in Indigenous Africana Religions, Theology and Arts”, bringing together scholars, cultural icons, and thought leaders worldwide to explore Africa’s history, spirituality, and cultural identity.

Held over three days at the University, the conference set a reflective tone, emphasising the reclamation of African cultural consciousness amid globalisation.

Professor Emeritus John Ayotunde Isola Bewaji, in his opening address, thanked Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi and his management team for their support, highlighting the conference as a platform for safeguarding Africa’s spiritual and cultural heritage. “Our history, spirituality, and humanity were meant to be forgotten, but we have refused to let that happen,” he remarked, stressing that cultural recovery is essential to understanding the continent’s true identity.

The Vice-Chancellor described the gathering as “more than an academic meeting,” framing it as a space for intellectual and cultural engagement that deepens awareness of African identity and values.

Cultural enrichment was provided by Her Royal Highness Erelu Tunwase, a former member of the British House of Commons, who performed a moving ancestral tribute and lauded FUL for initiatives fostering human development, job creation, and poverty reduction.

The keynote lecture, delivered by Professor Paul Ugor of the University of Waterloo, Canada, examined “Petro-Imperialism, Punctuated Entropy, and Spirituality in African Eco-Fiction,” highlighting how African eco-fiction critiques global systems that prioritise profit over people, and stresses the spiritual and ecological responsibility embedded in African storytelling.

The conference reinforced FUL’s commitment to promoting African cultural heritage, scholarly discourse, and holistic human development, establishing the University as a hub for cultural and spiritual scholarship on the continent.