The DVC Academic, Prof. Tony Eyang (L) and the inaugural lecturer, Prof. Eyo Offiong Mensah at the lecture.
By Anietie Akpan
The 140th Inaugural lecturer of the University of Calabar (Unical), Prof. Eyo Offiong Mensah has advocated for the creation of an Onomastics Department in Nigerian Universities.
Prof. Mensah made this advocacy at the Senator Godswill Akpabio International Conference Centre while delivering the institution’s inaugural lecture on the topic, “In the beginning, there was a name: What’s not in a name?”.
This was contained in a release form the Public Relations Unit of the University
He said, “there is no University in Nigeria where onomastics is studied as a programme or even a course, except in Unical. I wish to agitate for the recognition of onomastic science as a full-fledge disciplinary endeavour in Nigeria”.
According to him, the need to develop the study of name as an independent field of study has become imperative, saying it will widen it’s scope, diversify it’s methodology and broadly expand its academic horizon.
The Don said the creation of a Department of Onomastics will give the study of names greater visibility and enrich it’s intellectual engagement.
Mensah, a Prof of Structural and Anthropological Linguistics also stressed the need to sustain a vibrant professional association to coordinate onomastic research in Nigeria.
From L-R: Director of Administration, Vice Chancellor’s Office, Dr. Citizen Ini Ekpo, the DVC Academic, Prof. Tony Eyang, the inaugural lecturer, Prof. Eyo Offiong Mensah and the Lady.
The inaugural lecturer charged name scholars in Nigeria to promote the exchange of information on onomastic research adding that, “there should information on who is doing what research, about conferences and research projects”.
Describing personal names as tools for tracing family lineages, he called for the setting up of name archives and initiation of projects like dictionary of Nigerian names.
Prof. Mensah also underscored the need for a website for the field to help with useful links and information, saying this will facilitate networking and cooperation at the regional level.
His words, “In spite of the enormous socio- cultural functions of names, the study of personal names in Nigeria is grossly neglected or even completely abandoned.
The Vice Chancellor of Unical, Prof. Florence Obi, in her remarks, expressed delight with the topic of the lecture, saying the use of name is central to every human activity.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Academic, Prof. Tony Eyang, the University Chancellor commended the Inaugural lecturer for joining the league of senior academics who have paid their intellectual debt, saying inaugural lecture is an academic culture of the University which must be sustained.
The well-attended lecture featured the presentation of a memento to the Inaugural lecturer by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic on behalf of the Vice Chancellor.
