HIS ROYAL MAJESTY OMO N'OBA N'EDO UKU AKPOLOKPOLO, OBA EREDIAUWA CFR, OBA OF BENIN;

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS OKPARA I, OVIE OF AGBON;

MY LORDS SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL;

MR. CHAIRMAN;

DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMEN:

On behalf of the Institute for Benin Studies, I happily welcome you all to the 4th chief (Dr.) Jacob Uwadiae Egharevba (MBE) memorial lecture. That we are holding the fourth lecture today means that the personality being honoured needs not much introduction anymore. But for the benefit of first timers, Chief (Dr.) Egharevba MBE who lived between 1893 and 1980 was the first indigenous Edo man to write and Publish monumental works totaling thirty three books and booklets on Edo history and culture as well as related peoples. He was variously and well honoured in his lifetime, but this occasion is only helping to further the good works he started. We thank God and congratulate ourselves for continuing the sustenance of the seven years old institute and five years old lecture series inspite of the serious financial difficulties under which we work.

The continued barrenness of our cultural landscape, which is yet to experience any rejuvenation since the exit of the military prods us to soldier on for the Cultural development of our people. Though we have been seemingly quiet in the past year, we are happy to inform of new projects we are undertaking in the New Year. Firstly, we are launching the Journal of Benin Studies, which is ready for the press and would be organizing an international conference on" Politics, Society and rights in Traditional Societies in collaboration with the Carnegie council for Ethics and international affairs of New York in April, 2000.

This 4th lecture by distinguished Professor Peter P. Ekeh, which has brought the seemingly heterogeneous but linguistically and culturally homogenous Edoid people together today, we hope will help to stoke the fire of unity among the Edoid people and foster oneness through development of a common lingua franca.

We cannot end this address without first thanking our Royal Father Omo n'Oba n"Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa CFR for his financial and moral support. We also thank our special Guest of Honour and Royal Father HRH Okpara I, Ovie of Agbon, who took time off from our teaming brothers and sisters in his domain to join us in waving of the emblem of unity and oneness. We thank our Guest Lecturer Professor Ekeh for contributing his time and resources to come from America to give this lecture and further cementing our oneness.

This lecture would not have been possible without the financial muscle of our brothers Dr. Nowa Omoigui U.S. based cardiologist and cultural activist, Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi MD/CEO of Partnership Investment Company who has virtually taken over as the major sponsor of the lecture in the last two years, Engineer Osarenkhoe, President of Edoma Club Lagos, Mr Andy Ehanire,CEO, Ogba zoo and park and Chief Lugard Aimiuwu. We appreciate their kind gesture.