The Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele, has reaffirmed the University’s commitment to promoting interdisciplinary research and intellectual discourse aimed at addressing contemporary societal challenges.
He made this known while declaring open the 2nd International Conference of the Faculty of Arts, held at the Twin Hall, Faculty of the Social Sciences, EKSU.
The three-day conference, themed “Re-imagining the Past, Shaping the Future: Exploring Security Challenges in Contemporary Society Through the Humanities,” brought together scholars, researchers and participants from within and outside Nigeria to examine the role of the humanities in tackling emerging security concerns and fostering sustainable development.
Declaring the conference open, Professor Ayodele noted that the conference theme was both timely and relevant, stressing that security challenges confronting societies require multidisciplinary approaches that recognise the invaluable contributions of the humanities in shaping values, preserving cultural identity and promoting peaceful coexistence.
The Vice-Chancellor urged participants to take advantage of the conference to engage in robust intellectual exchanges capable of generating practical recommendations for policymakers and other critical stakeholders.
In his keynote address, renowned historian and scholar from the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Akin Alao, challenged scholars to rethink conventional approaches to security by drawing lessons from history and leveraging the humanities to address contemporary realities.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Professor M. Y. Ojo, commended the Vice-Chancellor for his unwavering support for the Faculty and the successful hosting of the conference.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Professor G. A. Adekunle-Ojo, welcomed participants and expressed confidence that the conference deliberations would produce valuable insights and recommendations for addressing contemporary security challenges through humanities-based perspectives.
The conference attracted academics, researchers, postgraduate students and other stakeholders from various institutions, reinforcing EKSU’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence in teaching, research and community engagement.
