Hosting a Conference that Interrogates the Experience of Border Communities during the Nigerian Civil War, August 2013.
Background
The conference is being proposed by the Network of Benue and Cross River Historians in conjunction with the Historical Society of Nigeria, Kwararafa University Wukari and the Office of the Chief Historian and Archivist, Bayelsa State Nigeria, The Network of Benue and Cross River Historians met in Calabar in October 2012 to discuss the subject of the Nigerian Civil war against the back-drop of the planned centenary of amalgamation of Nigeria. The subject of the experience of communities that lived on both sides of the Nigeria/Biafra border was debated. It became clear and obvious from the debate that very little has been documented, from any perspective, of the experiences of such border communities. Given that the process of forcefully uniting the country proceeded from such communities, they were more often than not, tagged as conspirators and/or collaborators by both the Federal troops and those of the rebel republic. Numerous atrocities were committed by both sides and to date some of the scars of such atrocities are still visible.
The Network concluded that history has been unfair to the people who occupied the Nigerian/Biafra border and that their own accounts of the war have not been presented to any major audience. It was quickly resolved therefore, that a multidisciplinary conference be called to discuss these issues with a view to filling a yawning gap of the history of one of the darkest moments of our history.
Theme and Rationale for the Congress
The theme for the Congress is; historicizing the Nigerian civil war experience of border communities.
Congress Objectives.
To historicize the experience of peoples and communities that lived in border lands during the Nigerian civil war
To discuss socio-economic, cultural and human resources variables that determined the behaivour of communities who lived on both sides of the border during the civil war
To facilitate a platform to share experiences by scholars, eye witnesses and combatants in border locations during the civil war
To use history as a useful tool in charting the way forward in finding solutions to issues relating to border relations
The following sub-themes will be interrogated.
Theoretical foundations: an analysis of the writings on the Nigerian Civil war as it affected border communities.
Actions and activities of combatants in Border Communities.
Micro-nationalism vs Nationalism: Border issues in Nigeria/Biafra and Biafra/Cameroun.
Role of community associations, trade unions, youth (student) movements in the border communities.
The plight of women and children in the civil war border lands
Nigerian Civil war Research: situational analysis and future prospects
War and Refugee Populations -- staying put, moving out, international aid, and survival
Population, Migration, and the Nigerian Civil War
Media and the new face of technology and war.
Date, Activities and Programme
The Congress will hold in August 2013. The Proposed venue is Calabar, Cross River State.
The under listed activities will take place:
Welcome Reception
Key note address by invited Speaker
Paper and Video presentations
Gala night (Cultural Performance/Commissioned Play/comedy/live music)
The Tentative Programme is:
Sunday Arrival and Registration
Monday Opening Ceremonies and First Working Session
Tuesday 2nd and 3rd Working Session, Plenary/Closing and Gala night.
Wednesday Departure
Keynote Speaker: Senator Kanu G. Agabi SAN; CON
Chairman of the Occasion: General Anthony Ukpo (Rtd)
Special Guest of Honour: Brigadier General Benjamin Adekunle
Other Special Guests will include: Chief of Army Staff, GOC, 82nd Division Nigerian Army, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern and Central Naval Commands, Commandant Defence College Abuja, DG, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Abuja, Commandant/Provost, NDA Kaduna, IG of Police, Chairman Council of Chiefs in Cross River and Akwa-Ibom.
Registration Fee
SN Location Type Amount (=N=)
1 Border Community Early Registration 2000
2 Border Community Late Registration 3000
3 Non Border Community Early Registration 3,500
4 Non Border Community Late Registration 4,500
5 Students (Under-Graduate) Not Applicable 500
6 Students (Post-Graduate) Not Applicable 1,500
Conclusion
We look forward to your partnering with us in organizing, promoting, managing and making a huge success of the Conference.
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