- Event Seeks To Preserve Osoba’s Radical Legacy
LEADING academics, labour activists, civil society leaders and progressive intellectuals will converge in Abuja on Tuesday, July 28, for the second symposium in celebration of the late public intellectual and renowned Marxist and historian, Dr Segun Osoba.
Participants are expected not only to celebrate his enduring contributions to scholarship and social justice but also deliberate on preserving the legacy of Nigeria’s progressive movement.
The symposium, themed “Segun Osoba, Radical Historiography and the Defence of the Common People,” will begin at 9:00 a.m. (West Africa Time) at BON Elvis Hotel, Wuse 2, Abuja, with virtual participation available via Zoom.
Organisers describe the event as a celebration of “a lifetime of scholarship, crusading for social justice and the defence of the common man,” bringing together scholars, students, labour leaders, activists and admirers of the renowned historian whose work profoundly shaped the understanding of Nigeria’s political economy, labour history and class struggles.
The symposium is the second in a series of memorial engagements initiated to reflect on Osoba’s intellectual contributions and their relevance to contemporary struggles for democracy, equity and social justice in Nigeria.
According to the organisers, discussions will focus on Osoba’s pioneering role in radical historiography, his lifelong commitment to defending the interests of ordinary Nigerians, and the continued relevance of his scholarship in addressing present-day socio-economic and political challenges.
Beyond celebrating his academic achievements, the gathering is also expected to consider practical steps towards institutionalising the values and ideals he championed throughout his life.
A major proposal before participants is the establishment of a foundation or institute dedicated to preserving and projecting the collective legacy of Nigeria’s left and progressive traditions.
Prepared by the Osoba for Eternity Planning Committee, the proposal argues that Nigeria has nurtured a rich tradition of anti-imperialist, pro-working people and progressive movements dating back to the 1940s.
It notes that despite decades of sacrifices by activists, intellectuals and labour leaders, there has been no enduring institution devoted to preserving their history, documenting their struggles and promoting progressive policy alternatives.
The committee observes that previous discussions following the deaths of notable progressive figures often revolved around whether to establish institutions in honour of individual personalities or create a broader platform representing the collective heritage of Nigeria’s progressive movement.
It noted that the passing of Dr Osoba offers an opportunity to resolve that longstanding debate through a comprehensive and sustainable approach.
Under the proposal, a working group would be constituted to develop a roadmap for establishing the institution. Following the Abuja memorial symposium, the group is expected to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to review existing proposals and produce a strategic implementation plan covering the emerging organisation’s legal status, governance structure, funding model, staffing, locations and operational framework.
The proposed institute would serve as a political and intellectual hub for developing and promoting progressive ideas while preserving the historical experiences of Nigeria’s left movement.
Dr Osoba was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost radical historians and public intellectuals. Throughout his academic career, he earned recognition for his rigorous analyses of colonialism, capitalism, labour movements and the political economy of development, while mentoring generations of scholars and activists committed to social transformation.
Associates have described the symposium as both a tribute to an exceptional scholar and a strategic platform for defining the future of progressive politics, intellectual engagement and people’s struggles in Nigeria.
