Varsity Don Advocates for Center for Cultural Studies at Lokoja University
Joseph emphasized the importance of such a center in promoting research, pedagogy, and innovation in response to emerging ideational values. He highlighted the need to canonize Northern Nigerian writers and preserve the country's fast-disappearing cultural ethos.
AKACHI NOEL 
Professor Abel Joseph, a renowned scholar in African and Post-Colonial Literary Studies at the Department of English, has called for the establishment of a center for Nigerian Cultural Studies at the Federal University Lokoja. His call came during the 17th Inaugural lecture titled ‘Weaving the Tapestry of Northern Nigeria Fictional Imaginaries from the Provincial to the Pluriversal’, held at the University campus in Adankolo, Lokoja, Kogi State.
Joseph emphasized the importance of such a center in promoting research, pedagogy, and innovation in response to emerging ideational values. He highlighted the need to canonize Northern Nigerian writers and preserve the country's fast-disappearing cultural ethos.
The proposed center aims to replicate the success achieved by other Nigerian universities, such as the Universities of Ibadan, Nsukka, Benin, and Obafemi Awolowo, in canonizing notable writers like Achebe, Soyinka, and others. Joseph believes that by nurturing cultural and social ambassadors, the University can foster cross-cutting dialogue and contribute to the intellectual enrichment of the community.
Furthermore, Joseph outlined various strategies for promoting international appreciation of Northern Literature, including translation initiatives, literary festivals, and collaborations. He underscored the significance of Northern Nigerian fictional narratives in addressing national and global post-colonial contexts, advocating for a broader acknowledgment of diverse human experiences.
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Joseph also emphasized the complementary role of literature in shaping cultural understanding alongside STEM disciplines, suggesting the inclusion of literature courses in science-related programs for a deeper understanding of humanity's pluriversal nature.
In conclusion, Joseph's call for the establishment of a center for cultural studies reflects a commitment to preserving Nigeria's cultural heritage and promoting intellectual discourse within the academic community.
