A multi-disciplinary platform for academics to discuss diverse issues relating to Africa was successfully initiated in Berlin on the 29th October 2009. The initiative termed “Africa Berlin International Conference” brought academics together at the Humboldt University, Berlin, for three days (29th till 31st October 2009).

A multi-disciplinary platform for academics to discuss diverse issues relating to Africa was successfully initiated in Berlin on the 29th October 2009. The initiative termed “Africa Berlin International Conference” brought academics together at the Humboldt University, Berlin, for three days (29th till 31st October 2009). The academics, many from Nigerian Institutions, presented and discussed papers on diverse aspects of African predicament including language, culture, leadership, corruption and politics. The initiative was coordinated by Dr. Anthony Agwuele, a Nigerian lecturer at the Institute of Philosophy , University of Leipzig, and sponsored by MediaTeam IT Education Center, Berlin. According to the organizing committee that comprises two German professors and African academics, the aim of the conference was to analyse the problems Africa is facing with the goal of suggesting and assessing solution methods.

Ogugu cultural group
The conference opened with a welcome address by the President of Humboldt University and followed by the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Alhaji Bin Rimdap who gave a speech on the current situation and developments in Nigeria. Prof. Wolff Ekkehard started the presentation and discussion session with a keynote address with the title “The African Predicament and the ‘Language Factor’:Unidentified? Under-researched? Under-rated?”.
Prof. Ekkehard and Dr. Agwuele
Participants
Constructive discussion ensued and became the pattern of the conference. Academic papers were presented and discussed for two days. A gala evening with music and dance entertainment by the Ogugu cultural group was provided on the evening of the 2nd day. The conference was rounded up on the 3rd day with a summary of the event, suggestions for improvements and sustaining credibility of the conference. The organizers hope to make the conference an annual event and provide academic acceptable publication of the presented papers.
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Afritopic 2009