2026 MAIDEN HYBRID INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE INSITUTE OF SOCIAL POLICY, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
The Maiden Hybrid International conference of the Institute of Social Policy University of Nigeria Nsukka held from the 3rd to 5th March 2026. The conference was well attended and made the right impact towards the goal for which the Institute was established. The conference which had the theme: Social Development in sub-Saharan Africa: Appraising the Commitment, Gains, and Challenges of Achieving Social Development through Target Development Goals, was quite timely as the need arises for governments and donor groups to get more concerned with the pursuit of Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals that ends in the next few years.
The opening ceremony on the 4th began with a courtesy call to the Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Uchenna Ortuanya, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof Mike Ebie Onyia. The presence of the UNICEF representatives from the Enugu Field Office was highly valued by the Institute and the University. The Vice Chancellor was appreciative of UNICEF for the initiative towards supporting the establishment of the Institute and for supporting the 2026 conference. He solicited for strengthening the partnership in spite of any lapses in the past promising that the University will do its part in supporting the Institute within the available meagre resources.
The opening ceremony and plenary were intellectually stimulating as distinguished professors and human rights activists made very elucidating presentations. These included:
1. Professor Leila Patel, President, International Consortium of Social Development, Board member, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development etc. – Professor at the University of Johannesburg
2.Professor Lauren Graham: Interim Welfare and Social Development Chair at the National Research Foundation of South Africa\Department of Science and Technology, Centre for Social Development in Africa, Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg; Chair, International Consortium of Social Development, Africa Branch, and
3. Ambassador Jake Epelle, a renowned African visionary leader and global advocate dedicated to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs); Founder\CEO of the All-Rights Foundation Africa.
Many other scholars made presentations in the physical group sessions after the plenary and online on the 5th of March. In all, total of 59 papers were presented at the conference. On the average each has three scholars researching on the problem. Thus, well over 150 academics from different disciplines including those that did not make submissions were either physically present or online to contribute to the discuss.
Some key highlights have been summarized in the Communique. Many of the papers addressed diverse issues that have relevance to various aspects of social development and the pursuit of sustainable development goals. The poor state of implementation was glaring arising from issues of political commitment and sustained financing mechanisms. Recommendations included the use of more indigenous innovation strategies that will involve all stakeholders in more sustainable manner and mobilising local funding sources now that external funding is shrinking.
Okey M Ikeanyibe
Director, ISP, UNN
Visit of ISP staff to the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development (ACE-SPED), University of Nigeria
The Director of the Institute of Social Policy, Prof Okey Ikeanyibe led some staff of the Institute to the ACE SPED, a World Bank assisted Higher Education Programme located at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. The visit was to have an interactive meeting with the Director of ACE SPED, Professor Emenike Ejiogu on collaboration towards mounting the Institute’s Programmes Online. Professor Ejiogu explained some key requirements and processes needed to meet towards getting the programmes of the Institute online and catching in on the teaming population of potential students opting to do the programmes online.
He took the ISP staff round to inspect the world class facilities at the Centre and assured that the Centre has all it takes to provide the ancillary services the Institute needs to mount online programmes if bottlenecks are cleared, and required retraining, modules and resources are available.
The Maiden Hybrid International Conference of the Institute of Social Policy, University of Nigeria
The Maiden Hybrid Conference of the Institute of Social Policy, University of Nigeria Nsukka holds from 3rd to 5th March 2026. It is expected that speakers at the Conference will include the Chief Social Policy Expert of UNICEF Nigeria and Officials of the Department from Enugu Field Office, the President International Consortium of Social Development, The Chairperson of the African Branch of the International Consortium of social Development, and, an International Human Right Activist and Policy Development and Advocacy Expert, Founder/CEO of The All-rights Foundation Africa (TAF AFRICA). The Theme of the Conference is: Social Development in sub-Saharan Africa: Appraising the Commitment, Gains, and Challenges of Achieving Social Development through Target Development Goals
The theme is purposefully chosen to afford academics and researchers, policy analysts and practitioners, and postgraduate students the opportunity to intensify research and practical efforts towards achieving SDGs in the few remaining years to Agenda 2030, in Africa.
Professor Raymond Adibe of the Department of Political Science\Gender and Development Policy Centre, University of Nigeria, will chair the plenum.
The Host, Director of the Institute of Social Policy, Professor Okey Ikeanyibe and the Chief Host and the 16th Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Distinguished Professor Simon Uchenna Ortunaya are happy to welcome all the participants.
REPORT ON THE 2-DAY PROGRAMME ON “GREEN RISING 9JA ACTIVATION” SUPPORTED BY UNICEF AND ORGANIZED BY THE YOUTH FRIENDLY RESOURCE CENTRE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA
Date: 20-21 September, 2024 Venue: Princess Alexandria Auditorium,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
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