Faculty of The Social Sciences Hosts Landmark Seminar as Prof. Oka Obono Advocates for Intellectual Decolonization and Quantum Redirections

 

Fatsssa Press 

The Faculty of The Social Sciences hosted a Faculty lecture on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Large Lecture Theatre, drawing an esteemed assembly of academics, students, and distinguished guests. Commencing at 10:00 a.m., the event brought together a diverse audience, including undergraduate and postgraduate students, faculty lecturers, retired professors, and notable veterans who have dedicated their careers to advancing knowledge across various disciplines.

Also in attendance were high-profile dignitaries, including the Vice-Chancellor Elect, Prof. Peter Olapegba, and a representative of the Chaplaincy, Chapel of the Resurrection, underscoring the overarching institutional significance of the gathering. 

Deliveries centered around the lecture presented by Professor Oka Obono from the Department of Sociology, a renowned scholar celebrated for his vast expertise and thought-provoking literature. Addressing the central theme, "Quantum Redirections and The Field in Global Social Science," Prof. Obono delivered a compelling discourse that challenged traditional academic paradigms and emphasized the critical necessity of a multidisciplinary approach to institutional and national growth. 

He asserted that true problem-solving begins with self-discovery, urging African scholars to critically evaluate how local research can be domesticated to address immediate societal challenges rather than adhering strictly to Western frameworks. Striking at the core of conventional methodology, he admonished researchers to declare their biases rather than blindly pursuing absolute objectivity, arguing that rigid conformity to foreign models often stifles authentic indigenous inquiry.

During the remarks, others further lamented the system-level paradox wherein brilliant domestic minds remain incapacitated locally due to systemic neglect, yet achieve extraordinary exploits when given opportunities abroad.

Attributing this systemic drain primarily to governance failures, it was posited that colonization operates less through technological dominance and more as an intellectual mechanism designed to reshape indigenous thought, noting that official neglect continues to erode native languages, history, culture, and foundational academic infrastructure.

Drawing a comparison to nations like China, which preserved their institutional autonomy,  he questioned why the social sciences remain predisposed to artificial certainty despite the inherently uncertain, dynamic, and fluid nature of human behavior.

Following the presentation, various dignitaries and senior professors offered insightful remarks, after which students engaged the speaker in an interactive question and answer session. 

The seminar was officially concluded with formal closing remarks and a group photograph, marking a successful and intellectually enriching engagement for the entire Faculty.