Professor Apuega Righteous Arikawei Delivers 26th Inaugural Lecture At Federal University Otuoke

The Federal University Otuoke on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, held its 26th Inaugural Lecture, where Professor Apuega Righteous Arikawei, a Professor of Adult Education, Social Welfare and Community Development, delivered a thought-provoking lecture titled “Endless Battles Of The Unreached: The Trilogy Of Andragogical Interventions.”

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Teddy Charles Adias, in his opening remarks, described inaugural lectures as a platform for professors to showcase their academic journey, contributions, and future focus. He likened the event to the making of a king, noting that the 26th lecture underscored the University’s commitment to entrenching academic culture, promoting scholarship, and strengthening town and gown relations.

The University's reporter Ebido Lucky observed that Professor Arikawei, in his presentation, drew from biblical references, including Genesis 1:15–17, as well as the postulations of Charles Darwin and Thomas Hobbes, to argue that life is a constant battle characterized by struggles for survival. He highlighted education as the foundation of national development and emphasized that adult education plays a vital role in empowering the unreached and marginalized groups in society.

The Professor of Adult Education explained that while pedagogy equips children with foundational knowledge, andragogical interventions are designed to meet the unique learning needs of adults. He identified pastoralist nomads, migrant fishermen, and others in remote communities as the “unreached,” stressing that they often face endless battles ranging from religious, political, economic, and security challenges to lack of access to healthcare and education.

Outlining his contributions to scholarship and society, Professor Arikawei noted that he had developed a tourism blueprint for Nigeria’s Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, initiated frameworks for the education of migrant fishermen, and examined the role of traditional fishing festivals in promoting adult learning and community development in Bayelsa State. He also stressed the importance of literacy programmes, cultural reorientation, improved income opportunities, and environmental health interventions as solutions for the challenges of the unreached.

The Inaugural Lecturer, who hails from Epebu in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, thanked God, his academic mentors, family members, and notable personalities such as former President Goodluck Jonathan, Professor I.S. Nzeneri, Professor John Cecil Buseri, Professor Allen Agih, and Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku for their support throughout his career. He also expressed gratitude to his late father, Mr. Solomon Idaru Arikawei, and his mother, Madam Eleya Arikawei, as well as his wife, Mrs. Oruona Arikawei, and children.

In his closing remarks, Vice Chancellor Professor Teddy Charles Adias praised Professor Arikawei for expanding the frontiers of learning through a rich academic career and impactful contributions. He decorated him with the FUO Inaugural Lecture medal and inducted him into the University’s Inaugural Lecture Hall of Fame.

The event also featured the introduction of the Vice Chancellor’s entourage by the Registrar, Mrs. Andabi Amangi-Edomo, the reading of the lecturer’s citation by the University Orator, Dr. Charles German Ikimi, and a vote of thanks by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Professor Ibebietei Temple Offor. Entertainment was provided by the Makhaleba Foundation led by Barr. Biobaragha Makalaboh Rosalyn.

The 26th Inaugural Lecture was attended by members of the Governing Council, deans, professors, staff, students, and community leaders, further cementing Federal University Otuoke’s place as a growing hub of scholarship and community engagement.