HAPSTA HOLDS SUCCESSFUL 2014 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

As part of our efforts to advocate against superstition, promote peace, justice and social tolerance and development, the Humanist Association for Peace and Social Tolerance Advancement (HAPSTA) on Friday 29th August 2014, holds its 4^th international conference in honour of late Prof. Olusegun Oladipo, a quintessential scholar and a humanist of international repute.

A cross-section of participants at the conference

The conference had as its theme, “Humanism, Existential Predicaments and Africa”, affords the participants the opportunity to discuss superstition, which has continued to bedevil Africa despite the growth of science and technology, in the modern world, social reconstruction, communalism, religious profiteering, witchcraft, modernity, among other issues. 

Prof. O. B. Lawuyi delivering the keynote address

The preference for the choice of the topic and the setting is predicated on the prevalence of the instances of superstition and its induced ilks such as witch-killing, ritual killing, and commonplace discrimination against religious minorities and the killing of albinos in contemporary Africa.

Mrs Kehinde Oladipo receiving the Post-Homous Award bestowed on Prof. Olusegun Oladipo

The conference which started at 9:30am, as scheduled, had 105 participants in attendance among whom are scholars and other eminent personalities such as Prof. Tunde Lawuyi, who delivered the Keynote Address, Prof. Wale Olajide,  who delivered the Welcome Address;  Dr. C. A Udefi who chaired the opening session of the conference, Prof. Francis Offor who declared the conference opened, Dele danladi Agbeyo (an eminent humanist), Prof. Dipo Irele ,  Dr. Bolatito Lanre-Abass, Dr. Christopher Agulanna, Dr. Adeshina Afolayan, Dr. Sola Olorunyomi, among others; papers were also presented by 18 other humanists and scholars from diverse views (religious and non-religious).

Danladi Dele-Agbeyo receiving the Outstanding Humanist Lifetime Award in Pragmatic Humanism

The conference, which many considered a huge success on the part of the organizers, found the trio of late Prof. Olusegun Oladipo, Levi Fragell and Danladi Dele Agbeyo worthy of being honoured with different categories of awards for their contributions to humanism in Africa and the world at large. 

A cross-section of participants

The second and the third session of the conference which was about paper presentation started and ended as scheduled, and the conference came to a logical conclusion during the plenary session (with conference resolutions).

HAPSTA appreciates the participants and guests, and wished them safe trip back to their various destinations.

Noah Balogun