Stories by Stanley Onyekwere
Former Nigeria’s Head of State and Elders statesman, Gen Yakubu Gowon (rtd), ex Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. Gen Leo Irabor (rtd) and current Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police as well as other heads of security agencies are expected to converge on Abuja, today, for public presentation of the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN) landmark book titled “Military Factor in Nigerian History, 1960-2018”.
While Gen. Gowon will chair the book launch holding today at Hall C, Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Lt. Gen Irabor will deliver the keynote address.
Making this disclosure yesterday, at the pre-book launch briefing in Abuja, HSN’s Acting President, Prof. Zara Kwaghe, said the book launch is one of the series of programmes lined up for the Society’s platinum celebration, with the theme:“70 years of Resilience: Honouring Nigeria’s Past, Envisioning its Future”.
Kwaghe added that the celebration presents an opportunity to reflect on the Society’s achievements, honour the contributions of pioneering historians and scholars who laid the foundation for the Society, and inspire future generations to carry forward the torch of historical inquiry and preservation.
According to her, upcoming programmes include Colloquium in Ibadan, Nsukka and Zaria, History Teaching Methodology Workshop to be hosted by the Federal University of Lokoja and the pivotal 70th Congresses of the HSN and AAH slated for October, 12-17, 2025.
She further disclosed that the book was edited by Professors CBN Ogbogbo, a former president of the Society and the current Vice chancellor of Admiralty University Ibuzor (ADUN), CCC Osakwe of blessed memory and VS Akran and also the official launch of the 70th HSN / the 6th Association of African Historian (AAH) Congresses.
“HSN which is the first academic society to be registered in Nigeria is 70 years this year; it was established in 1955 by our founding fathers, Professors, K.O. Dike and Abdullahi Smith at the University of Ibadan”, she explained.
Similarly, a former president of the HSN, Prof Yakubu Aboki Ochefu, who spoke on behalf of the Society’s National Coordinating Committee (NCC) under the Chairmanship of Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), which is in charge of the planning of the HSN’s 70th anniversary, said the platinum celebration is a year long packed series of programme.
He noted that it is not just a Nigerian event, but a continental programme.
