The world Health Day, a global health awareness event, was commemorated 7 April 2019. The date, which incidentally coincides with the founding of the World Health Organisation in 1948, has this year’s theme as Universal Health Coverage for all.
The Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture is a conception of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates’ Confraternity) and dedicated to honouring the memory of one of Nigeria’s most outstanding and endearing broadcasting icon – Late Ralph Chukwuemeka Opara (MON).
The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) had instituted the Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture series in recognition of Ralph Opara’s lifetime of achievement and it aims to keep his faith alive and to continue to provide a medium to give vent to the views for which he stood steadfastly, throughout his life and to provide a platform where topical issues in our National Development can be explored for the collective good. The lecture series is aimed at continuously charting the course of humanity towards the attainment of an egalitarian and just society.
Late Ralph Opara was a prolific writer and producer. He created the radio comedy series Shakey-Shakey and Alao among many others. A consummate actor and master of ceremony. He compered scores of national and international cultural events, conferences, symposia, State banquets and other ceremonies. In November 2000, Late Ralph Opara was honoured with the Nigerian prestigious National Merit Award – Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
One of Ralph Opara’s most enduring contribution to the development of mankind and society at large, was a decision he took as a fledgling youth while at the University College Ibadan, to participate, in 1952, in the formation of the Pyrates Confraternity, with six other young men at the time. His vision was to constructively apply his youthful, journalistic mind, in tandem with his co-travellers to constructively challenge and curtail the negative tendencies of elitism, tribalism, colonialist mentality, etc. He is known within the organisation to have actively led the institutionalisation of the organisation in the 50s, and remained active within the Confraternity until he passed on in 2002.
Since its inception in 2004, the Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture series have held nine times in major cities in Nigeria with astute speakers and discussants contributing to topical national development issue in the past nine editions. The 2004 inaugural lecture titled “Re-engineering the Nigerian Democratic Experiment for Stability and Development” was delivered by an astute academician Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie (Former National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities, and later Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Nigeria). The 2004 lecture was one of engaging and far-reaching interest, especially in the wake of the nascent democratic experiment from 1999 which was expected to provide Nigeria with an opportunity of nation building and a democratic society in which justice, human dignity, political, economic and social development is guaranteed and available to all Nigerians.
The 2005 edition, “Democracy and Governance – Rethinking the Nigerian Experience”, was graced by prominent political and public office holders. The 2005 lecture culminated in a position paper that shaped the political landscape of Imo State at the time.
In 2006 at the third lecture at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the anticorruption czar and pioneer Executive Chairman of the Nigerian anticorruption agency – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) delivered a lecture on the theme, “2007: Integrity and the Challenges of Political Engagement”.
In 2008, Chuka Obele-Chuka, Esq., a fiery lawyer and human rights activists challenged the Nigerian political status quo of relegating the citizens role in governance to only election, in a lecture titled “Servant Leadership in a Sustainable Democracy”.
Over the past years, the Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture series have been graced by eminent personalities and past speakers who include, Dr Lucky Akaroese (Prof of Sociology), Dr Sam Amadi – former Executive Chairman of Nigeria’s National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), Dr Hussaini Abdu – former Country Director of ActionAid International in Nigeria speaking on “Democracy and the Rule of Law in Nigeria: The Journey so far” (2011), “Terrorism, Insecurity and Irredentist Movements: The Challenge for Nation Building in Nigeria” (2012), “Taking the Nigerian Child Off the Streets: The impact of corruption on achieving Universal Primary Education” (2013), respectively. In addition to the 2015 edition of the lecture series, a community cause project was also commissioned in honour of Ralph Opara.
The 2019 edition of the lecture which is 10th in the series, will hold on 31st May, 2019 at the Copthorne Hotel, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3SN, during 23rd Annual International Converge of the National Association of Seadogs and the 9th NAS Charity Red Ball which aimed to raise funds to support the work of Mustard Tree - a Homeless charity supporting people in poverty and facing homelessness across Greater Manchester.
Marking the 30th World Health Organisation (WHO) designated international day– World Aids Day (WAD) to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic, members of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates’ Confraternity) – NAS/PC joined hands with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) and other NGOs registered under the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to mark the December 1st event across the 56 Chapters of the Association.
The King of Ogor Kingdom, HRM Okiemute Onajite Igere 1, Ovie of Ogor Kingdom has commended the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) for its huge contributions to the Kingdom..
His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri has applauded the National Association of Seadogs, (Pyrates Confraternity) for their consistent fight against cultism in tertiary Institutions and other social vices in Nigeria.
The Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confranternity) participated in the annual 5k Breast Cancer Awareness Walk organized by the Breast Health Angels Foundation Inc a non-profit organization.
The Calabar Municipal chapter of the National Association of Seadogs in Cross River State (Jokaina Deck) has donated 35 pints of blood to needy patients in public health institutions in Calabar. The exercise which took place on the 25th of August 2018, was carried out by the Calabar centre of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) at the chapter's Anchor Point, attracted not less than 40 seadogs, some of whom came with their wives.
NAS Hiroshima Deck visited the George Town Neighbourhood house on Saturday July7th 2018, as part of their activities during a work and charity visit to Tasmania. The association, led by the then Cap'n, Dr Charles Meribole, was received on arrival by the Director of the George Town Neighbourhood Houses, Ms Simone Lowe, alongside other staff and volunteers of the centre.
NAS Town Hall Meeting - Abuja04 May 201909:00AM - |
10th Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture31 May 201911:00AM - 02:00PM |
