From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
Thursday, September 19, 2024, has turned out to be another remarkable day in the history of University of Nigeria (UNN), Enugu campus.
An amazon who hd contributed positively to the academic growth of the university and human resource development,thereby adding to the socio economic development of the nation at large, Professor Justitia Odinakachukwu Nnabuko, threw in her towel from active service, after 41 years in the saddle.
Prof. Justitia Odinakachukwu Nnabuko joined Unersity of Nigeria as a graduate assistant at the department of Marketing, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Nigeria,Enugu Campus.in 1983. She worked extremely hard to have obtained a degree of Master of Business Administration in Marketing(MBA) in 1987, and degree of Philosophy(PHD) in Marketing,2002.
Within 41 years under the services of University of Nigeria. UNN,Enugu Campus, Prof.Nnabuko attended courses abroad which include International School of Business Management held in Stockholm, Sweden in 2005, Havard Business School in 2019,and lately Wharton School in University of Pennsylvania.Chicago in 2023, among others.
Prof.cNnabuko was very bold and proud to tell her story and share her experience with all, and that informed the reason for her valedictory lecture titled,’ Marketing Education and Professionalism in Nigeria:-Shifts in Paradigm”,delivered on Thursday. September 19, at the prestigeous Moot Court of the Faculty of Law, Enugu Campus, UNN.
It was also a double celebration as drums was rolled out to celerate her platinum birthday thereafter at the Chapel of Redemption Resource Centre, within UNEC premises.
Delivering her valedictory lecture titled,”Marketing Education and Professionalism in Nigeria:-Shifts in Paradigm”, Prof.Nnabuko described Marketing as a living profession which must meet up with evolving trends of 21st century. She stressed that Marketing in Nigeria needs professionalism as well as Marketing ethics.
According to her, having a degree in Marketing is not only what marketing entails. She tutored that professionalism in marketing incorporates skills and competence,clear communicatim skills,critical thinking and creativity, the ability to keep records,etc.
Prof. Justitia Nnabuko explained that marketing also requires good packaging,stating that a good marketer stands in the position to intimate the producers on what people are saying about their products, so they can make improvements.
She lamented that the idea of Marketing as a profession started as far back as 1900 and cautioned that Nigeria must meet up with the trend.
Her words,”Things have been evolving all the way just like in every other discipline.If we don’t change, there will be lots of gap in our economy less than those of the advanced countries”.
She commended Nigeria for gradually adapting to the global ICT facilitated economy using the internet and emails.She said Nigeria is gradually shifting away from cash economy to a cashless economy.
Prof. Nnabuko who is a Prof. of Marketing Management and Food Marketing, advised the students to devise self employment strategies at this critical moments ,stating taking to marketing foodstuffs and other agricultural products can be rewarding without much capital.
Her Valedictory lecture which lasted more than three hours was captivating and captured the attention of both the university community and dignitaries who attended the lecture. The UNN acting Vice Chancellor.Prof.Polycarp Nwachukwu who was represented by Prof.Daniel extolled Prof.Nnabuko for her accuracy,broad analysis and expertise.Earlier on,Prof. Ofoegbu while reading the citation of Prof.Justitia Nnabuko disclosd she has published eight books and 39 journals, while serving UNN academic community.
The event of the day was not over with her astonishing lecture withnessed by both the academia, the business class, the political class, Alumni and current students of marketing, UNN, etc, But continued at the Resource Center of Chapel of Redemption, UNEC,Enugu for her platinum birthday celebration.
Encomiuns was poured on both Prof. Odinaka Justititia and her husband. Dr Rich Ebere Nnabuko as family members, friends and well wishers from various parts of the country, the University community and her fellow lecturers,the Alumni and students of Marketing joined in the celebration.
Dr Oliver Uzonna Ngwoue, one of her PHD Supervisees, described Prof.Nnabuko as a good academic,who lectured more than 60 PHD holders in Marketing and Public Relations.
Dr Ngwoke stated, “As a Marketing guru,her impacts can be felt both in the academic and industry.She is an upright and virtuous woman who does not believe in short cut.She is averse to extortion of students. She believes in due process. She is humble,kind and generous,” Dr Ngwoke stated.
