Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, chaired the 24th Annual Lecture/Symposium of the Fafunwa Educational Foundation (FEF) and the 19th Post-Doctoral Awards in Education, held at the AGIP Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
The symposium, held in honour of Nigeria’s first Professor of Education and former Minister of Education, the late Prof. Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa, focused on: “What Does the Research Say?: Mother Tongue Instruction and the Future of Early Education in Nigeria.”
In his address titled “Of Memories and Gratitude,”* Governor Otti paid glowing tribute to the late Prof. Fafunwa, describing him as a man of ideas, a dreamer and pathfinder who believed in the power of a trained mind.
“Ideas, as a wise man said, are the true capital; everything else is complementary,” Otti said. “True greatness is measured not by material possessions but by the scope of our impact and the memories that outlive our mortal frames.”
The Abia Chief Executive commended the Fafunwa family and the Foundation for sustaining the legacy of the renowned educationist.
On the theme of the lecture, Gov. Otti called for a deeper, research-driven conversation on the use of indigenous languages as a medium of instruction in early education. He acknowledged practical challenges – such as teacher capacity and the global relevance of some local languages – but warned against dismissing research findings simply because they challenge existing assumptions.
“If research establishes that children learn better when taught in indigenous languages, we should address the limitations rather than reject the findings,” Gov. Otti argued.
The Governor cited China, India and South Korea as examples of nations where indigenous language, education and economic development have intersected positively.
He also congratulated recipients of the 19th Post-Doctoral Awards, reminding them that academic achievement comes with greater responsibility to society.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of “Babs Fafunwa: A Life of Firsts – A Mini-Biography for Youngsters,” written by Prof. Okey Ndibe and illustrated by Chibu Ndibe. Governor Otti, who reviewed the book, described it as a vital tool for introducing young Nigerians to Fafunwa’s legacy and pledged to ensure children within his sphere have access to it.
Earlier, Prof. Ndibe, while introducing Governor Otti, spoke of their decades-long friendship dating back to Gov. Otti’s days as a student and young banker. He described Gov. Otti as a trailblazing governor who remained committed to his vision for Abia despite earlier political setbacks.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Francis Egbokhare of the University of Ibadan, who argued that the mismatch between the language of instruction and the language understood by the learner is at the heart of Nigeria’s learning crisis.
“What may appear as poor academic performance can sometimes be a consequence of language barriers rather than intellectual limitation,” he noted.
The Guest Speaker, Prof. Angelina Kioko of USIU-Africa, alongside scholars, educationists and policymakers, also attended the event.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
September 23, 2026.
