A Guest Lecture Titled- Building Bridges For A New Esan Nation Delivered By Dr. Osezua Ehiyamen

A Guest Lecture Titled- Building Bridges for a New Esan Nation Delivered by Dr. Osezua Ehiyamen, Department of Government, University of Texas at Austin.

At its July 1st, 2023, bi-annual Convention of Esan World Congress (EWC) North America, (USA Canada) Held at Sandman Signature Mississauga Hotel, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Ehiyamen M. Osezua, hails from Uhiele, Ekpoma who is a seasoned, lecturer, researcher, and scholar, has built an illustrious career around his profound understanding of public administration.

His academic journey, began in Nigeria, which has led him through some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions, such as the University of Benin, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Lagos, University of Ilorin and eventually to Austin Christian University, Texas, in the United States where he furthered his leadership skills in 2023.

His unwavering dedication to his field has seen him specialize in areas such as Conflict Management, Higher Education, Leadership, Public Policy Analysis, Strategic Leadership, and Human Resource Management.

Positions/Awards Held: Just to mention a few.
– Currently an Assoc. Professor/Resident Researcher-Dept. Of Government,

University of Texas at Austin
– Former Head, Department of Public Administration, University of Ilorin

– Former Head, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Osun State University, Osogbo

– He is a member of the Board of Directors, Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD), Texas State. -Member, Austin Independent School District (AISD) District Advisory Council

-2023 Award Recipient of Texas State Emerging Leaders Academy

-Former President, Esan Organization of Central Texas, (EOCT) Austin, Texas

-2018-2022 Visiting Professor, University of Texas at Austin

-Fellow, BIARI, Brown University Rhodes Island, USA

-Fellow, Center for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (Codesria) Senegal

-Fellow, Chartered Institute of Public Administration
-Editor-in Chief, African American Journal of Administration and Development.

-2006 Award for the Best Ph.D. Thesis writing in Africa, all this and many more. – Presently, an Edo State governorship aspirant.

He has published extensively in high impact academic journals both nationally and internationally. Happily married to Dr. Tina Osezua and blessed with two boys.

Introduction

The Esan Nation, with its rich cultural history, finds its roots in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. As we gather today for the Esan World Congress in Toronto, Canada, we acknowledge the vibrant diaspora that connects us to the global community.

This Congress is an attestation to the resiliency and global presence of our people. To this end, permit me to appreciate the dynamic leadership of this great organization, for creating a veritable platform of such global magnitude, that is intended to further the cause of the Esan Nation, especially in the Diaspora.

So, I count myself, greatly privileged, to be so honored to speak to this august gathering.

Unity is the linchpin in the wheel of progress, and the Esan Nation is no exception. Current times reveal fragmentation within our community, yet we know the potential strength in our unity, reflected in our shared values and historical bonds.

As a people from the same ethnic extraction, our unity has the power to transcend boundaries, connect us on a global scale, and impact our collective influence profoundly.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, my dear brothers and sisters, the Esan people’s history can be traced back to the Bini Empire, a highly developed, centralized state that had considerable influence over the region.

The Esan people’s rich culture, traditions, and identity were sculpted through centuries of interactions with other ethnic groups. The Esan nation, laced with rich cultural heritage, were those who first embraced western education because of their keen foresight, having recognized it as an imperative tool for societal growth and development.

It is therefore not a surprise that one of our own illustrious sons, Late Chief Anthony Enahoro, became the first Nigerian to move a motion for the independence of Nigeria, at the Federal level of Governance.

Many more Esan men and women have continued to distinguish themselves in their various fields of endeavor. Making a list of these trailblazers cannot be accommodated in my address because of the brevity of time.

However, decline in educational infrastructural and aspiration, socioeconomic downturns, insecurity, and insurgencies around and within the Esan geographical space, political neglect and undermining of the Esan interest and many other significant challenges have continued to threaten the vibrancy and survival of the Esan Nation.

Despite facing challenges, the Esan Nation has been struggling to maintain its cultural heritage, preserve her language, and strengthen community bonds. This is surely a proof of its resilience.

At the State and National levels, the role of the Esan Nation within the Nigerian State has been historically evolving. Our history is deeply intertwined with the fabric of the Nigerian State, and our contributions, indelible.

It must, however, be reiterated that a unified Esan Nation will be an asset to the Nigerian State. By building bridges, we can better integrate our communities, engage productively with other ethnic groups, and contribute significantly to the social, economic, and political development of Nigeria.

When we talk about building bridges, what do we really mean? ‘Building Bridges’ involves the spirit of our desired unity. It symbolizes the establishment of meaningful connections and understanding across different elements of our society.

From bridging gaps between different age groups and socio-economic classes to reinforcing ties between those in the diaspora and their home country, these bridges are pathways to development. It is through these bonds that we can foster a sense of belonging, shared identity, and a more robust and vibrant Esan Nation, whose contribution within the Nigerian State and the Diaspora will become more visible and relevant.

Role of Esan World Congress: Bridging the Gap
These global Esan communities need strong socio-cultural organizations like the Esan World Congress to continue preserving their identity, culture, and traditions, and to build bridges with their homeland and the wider world. Creditably, the Esan Congress has taken a step in the right direction by playing a pivotal role through creating platforms of engagement among the Esan in diaspora.

This is extremely laudable. I am aware that the Congress principal objective among other things is to contribute immensely to cultural preservation and promotion of the Esan People. Considering the locational advantage, I consider this organization as very strategic and eminently equipped to pioneer more vigorously, the building of the bridges that will further elevate the Esan Nation and make her take her pride of place among other ethnic groups in Nigeria and the Diaspora.

Building a New Esan Nation: Strategies and Implications

To build a new Esan Nation, the Esan World Congress should aim to create a comprehensive approach that includes cultural preservation, socio-economic development, and international diplomacy.

a. Cultural Preservation: The Congress should proactively engage towards digitizing Esan cultural artifacts, music, and oral histories, thereby making them accessible to the younger generation. There has been a lot of research that have documented the possible extinction of the oral Esan language because of our inability to teach our children our language. Some of us consider it an indication of being sophisticated.

Unfortunately, our Yoruba, Ibo or Hausa brothers appear to be smarter. They are making deliberate efforts to preserve their language and proudly teach their offspring as they are aware of the power of identity. EWC should be strategic in supporting the teaching of the Esan language and folklore, especially to our children, in the diaspora through collaborative engagement. Remember, identity is the hidden backbone of community development and the unseen hand that shapes our collective destiny.

b. Socio-Economic Development: A new Esan Nation should be economically vibrant and capable of providing for its people. Therefore, the Congress is saddled with the onerous task to initiate programs that will facilitate business partnerships and investments between the Esan diaspora and the homeland communities.

It should also aim to provide necessary resources and mentorship for young Esan individuals and families to advance their careers. We should begin to see the emergence of strong businesses, organization and agencies set up by illustrious Esan People, who are ready to support our Esans.

This is what other groups have been able to do, especially in the Diaspora. Programs that will enable young immigrants of Esan extraction integrate quickly into the North American societies, thereby giving then a head start should be encouraged. Trust me, these young people hold the future and the right investment in them will always be a step in the right direction and a profitable investment.

This is called foresight. This is also a great way to build bridges across generational lines. The Esan People must be at the vanguard of youth empowerment.

c. Political Engagement and International Diplomacy: To bridge the gap between the Esan people worldwide and the homeland, the Congress should undertake advocacy work that will make Esan a beautiful bride that should be courted by other political bridegrooms.

Yes, we can have a viable social-cultural platform with clear political ideology, whose core mandate is to protect the political and socio-economic interest of the Esan Nation. In a multicultural society like Nigeria, it is imperative that we set our differences and political leanings aside, as this we enable us to achieve the Esan agenda in the forthcoming governorship elections in 2024.

This is not just a task for this great organization alone, but for us all. Therefore, I am using this opportunity to call on all Esan People to please, cease this moment and let us have again, for the first time, a GOVERNOR from Esan extraction, after the late Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Alli.

If we agree to build bridges, by deliberately choosing to ignore what divides us and focusing our energy on strengthening our bonds, our unity and aspiration as a people, no group can possibly ignore our swags and sagacity, we have got them in full measure! I enjoin us to join hands in the crusade for a new Esan Nation, where we become our brothers’ keeper. Let us also continue to champion the cause of the Esan Nation on international platforms by establishing collaborations with other global diaspora communities. Yes, we can!

Conclusion

The Esan World Congress in North America (USA&Canada) should assert herself as a beacon of hope for the Esan people worldwide, illuminating the pathway to a new Esan Nation. Its efforts to build bridges between the Esan diaspora and the homeland, while fostering a sense of unity and shared identity among Esan people globally, are commendable. By continuing its work, the Congress should not only secure the survival of the rich Esan heritage but also opens new possibilities for the Esan Nation’s future in all its ramifications.

Also, permit me to reiterate the urgency for unity and bridge-building in the Esan Nation. The Esan World Congress is a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action towards achieving this. Together, we can leverage our shared heritage to forge a new path, a new identity, and ultimately, a New Esan Nation. So, let us engage, share, learn, and most importantly, build bridges for our future.

Thanks for Listening.
Dr. Ehiyamen Osezua FPA

ehiyamen.osezua@austin.utexas.edust
July 1 , 2023