The January 9th Collective (J9C), a socio-cultural group, will hold its annual public lecture on nation building on Saturday.

In a statement on Friday, Loye Amzat, captain of the club, said the lecture will examine the role of youths as an evolved generation in nation building and how to make their voices heard.

He said the 2021 edition of the programme will be a virtual event as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amzat noted that speakers and panelists drawn from around the world will speak on the theme.

According to him, there are two keynote speakers from the academia: Nenadi Adamu, a senior lecturer from the University of Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, and James Yeku from the University of Kansas, United States.

“Both respected academics will present papers on the theme of the conference which seeks to examine the role of youths, as an evolved generation, in nation-building and the pragmatic steps required to make their voices heard,” he said.

“The panel of discussants for the conference include the Centre Director of CIAPS, Lagos, Prof. Anthony Kika; popular columnist and publisher of The Cable, Mr. Simon Kolawole and Lawyer and President, Digital Music Commerce and Exchange Ltd, Oyinkansola “Foza” Fawehinmi.

“Others are US-based public analyst, Jide Alara; Former Banker, entrepreneur and politician, Hon Deji Ogunsakin and a student activist and Law student of the University of Kent, UK, Dara Apampa.”

The statement added that “the royal father of the day is the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Gbolahan Lawal, while special guests of honour expected to deliver goodwill messages are Senior Special Assistant to the President on Education Intervention, Mr. Fela Bank-Olemoh; Ekiti State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mr. Akin Oyebode and Special Adviser to the Lagos State governor on Science and Technology, Mr. Tubosun Alake”.

Amzat said the lecture is one of the association’s contributions to national discourse through engagement and dialogue, adding that previous lectures had addressed issues ranging from education, taxation and small-scale enterprise to good governance.