By Felix Khanoba
It was an atmosphere of excitement on Monday evening at University of Abuja (UniAbuja) as staff, students and other distinguished Nigerians came out in large number to welcome renowned global scholar, Prof Gayatri Spivak, to the institution.
Speaking at the reception in honour of the Indian scholar, literary theorist and freedom fighter, Vice Chancellor of UniAbuja, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, said the institution was delighted to attract the presence of Spivak, who is celebrated across the world.
“University of Abuja is very honoured to play host to her. I tell her that I personally considered her as my teacher. I started reading her a very long time ago, when I was in school in Canada, we have to pass her theory.”
Asked on the impact the visit would have on the students, the visibly elated Professor Na’Allah said :”I bring her to the campus because I want her to be an example in the 21st century; in this global age, when all you hear is Yahoo-Yahoo, people want to turn millionaire overnight, that here is a woman, who has held on to integrity, who has in all of her life fought for the downtrodden and theorise what is good about human, and I think they have a lot to learn from that and I want all my students to be like her.”
The VC commended Spivak for her commitment to scholarship and humanity, describing as a great freedom fighter.
” She has fought many fights, from fight of imperialism to postcolonialism, colonial and all that, “he said.
On her part, the 81-year-old literary giant, who went down memory lane on her humble beginning in India and a bold decision that saw her to a University in the United States, described her visit to UniAbuja as an informal one.
She commended the Vice Chancellor, the university staff, students and others for rolling out the drums to receive her.
“This is an informal visit, I thanked you all. I enjoyed the students as they danced joyfully. Joy is part of learning,” the renowned Professor of comparative literature said.
“At age 81, I don’t go to so many places again…., I have lived a life of integrity. I am not the best scholar. The honesty and integrity that my parents gave me, that is why I have a friend like Abdul-Rasheed (Na’Allah), she added.
One of the highlights of the event which attracted former Nigeria’s ambassador to Canada and Mexico, Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, former Deputy Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Chiedu Mafiana, among others, was the presentation of plaque to Professor Spivak by the UniAbuja’s Vice Chancellor.
The AUTHORITY reports that the scholar is considered one of the most influential postcolonial intellectuals. She was awarded the 2012 Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy for being “a critical theorist and educator speaking for the humanities against intellectual colonialism in relation to the globalized world.”
In 2013, Spivak received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award given by the Republic of India. She is a University Professor at Columbia University and a founding member of the establishment’s Institute for Comparative Literature and Society.
