
Posters on UNN campus opposing conference on witchcraft
The organisers of the planned academic conference on witchcraft planned for Nsukka next week are looking for another venue after the University of Nigeria withdrew the approval for the use of its Energy Centre.
The director of the centre wrote conference organisers withdrawing the approval, amidst the opposition by Christian students and the Christian Association of Nigeria against the conference.
The conference, initially scheduled for 28-31 October is the brainchild of the B.I.C Ijomah Centre for Policy and Research and is expected to hold between November 26 and November 27. It is a pure academic exercise, not a real meeting of witches and wizards, the centre said, shocked by the uninformed reaction of Christian students and CAN.
Posters pasted by Christian students on the campus decried the conference. The posters bear the messages: “Say No to the meeting of witches and wizards!!! We are (a) Christian community. Don’t pollute our environment please!” “University of Nigeria belongs to Jesus. So witches and wizards, No way!! No Vacancy!!!” “We plead the blood of Jesus over the University of Nigeria. Hence we reject all forms of witchcraft overtly or covertly in Jesus’ Name, Amen”.
Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, also urged members to pray to avert the conference ever holding.
Chairman of CAN in the South-East zone, Bishop Dr Goddy Okafor is concerned about the conference and has demanded that the programme be called off immediately.
Okafor said, “I call on all Heads of Blocks, State Chairmen and other Stakeholders of Christian Association of Nigeria South-East Zone to take up aggressive prayers against the planned convention of Witches and Wizards slated to hold on November 26 at UNN.
“This convention is not of God and must not hold in Jesus name. Exodus 22:18 says, ‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live’.
“I hereby direct, all Christian Churches in South East of Nigeria to take up lamentation and pray against this evil movement in all our churches this coming Sunday.
“I also call upon all Christian Campus Fellowship Groups and other Christian Students’ Associations to join in this effort and stand up for JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD against this evil development in South East Of NIGERIA.”
Similarly, the Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the 17 Southern States, Apostle Dr Joseph Ajujungwa warned the organizers to shelve the conference.
“We the Christian community reject in its entirety this attempt to hand over the UNN to the devil. This kind of thing cannot happen without some spiritual implications and effect and this is why we are saying ‘No’ to it.
“I join in calling on all Christians to hold fervent prayers in order to avert this looming danger. This is nothing but initiation through the back-door, and everything must be done to stop it.
“We urge the authorities of the UNN to avert the wrath of God by calling this conference off. It will not be of any advantage to the people but will end up in bringing calamity,” Ajujungwa cautioned.
In August, Professor Egodi Uchendu, director of the Professor B.I.C Ijomah Centre for Policy Studies and Research had called for scholarly papers on WITCHCRAFT, which is prevalent in many Nigerian communities. The statement noted that all cultures do not share a consistent pattern of witchcraft practice and beliefs.
“In Nigeria, for instance, the practice of witchcraft often intercepts with other concepts like magic, sorcery, esotericism, diabolism and even religion. From an interdisciplinary point of view, this conference seeks to find answers to pertinent questions such as: What is witchcraft? What factors influence witchcraft labelling in various communities? How does the practice of witchcraft affect society?”, the centre said in a post on Facebook account of African Humanities Program.
Join The Conversation
One Comment
@UNN conference
This is uncalled-for and all sponsors of this program are finished. Mark the end thereof
You May Like
Latest
Biden to cancel Trump easing of entry ban of Euro, Brazil travellers
Nigerian Ifeanyichukwu swallows cocaine pellets to beat arrest by India police
Zulum commends troops for upstaging terrorists in Marte
Trump to lift entry ban on non-US citizens from Europe, Brazil
FG urges Nigerians to take COVID-19 vaccine, dismisses conspiracy theories
Breaking: Nigeria posts 14 deaths, 1,617 new cases of COVID-19
One shot, car, bicycles set ablaze as protest over epileptic power supply turns violent in Kafanchan
Gun-battle in Zamfara: NAF officer, 30 bandits drop dead
11 suspected cultists busted in Lagos
Police storm kidnappers’ den in Plateau; kill 2
NCDC to conduct 450 COVID-19 tests per LGA
COVID-19: Gov. Uzodinma cries to Buhari over increase in cases, deaths in Imo
Controversies trail alleged oil spill at Chevron’s Funiwa oilfield in Bayelsa
FG approves payment of all outstanding salaries of New Nigerian Newspaper workers – Gov. Lalong
Defection: Court fixes date for PDP’s suit seeking sack of Dogara
Obiano constitutes committee to resolve Aguleri-Umuleri crisis
Gunmen rain bullets on police team, kill Inspector, steal weapons in Rivers
COVID-19: FG releases N10bn for domestic vaccines production
Lagos Govt urges Obas, council chairmen to hold public awareness on COVID-19
#EndSARS tragedy: Edo govt to offset hospital bills of two deaf victims
COVID-19: Edo deploys 200 constables, as enforcers storm markets, banks