GUARDIAN Thursday, March 9, 2000 Mazrui to deliver FSDH lecture on economic reforms AGAINST the backdrop of increasing calls for private sector participation and contribution to discourse, policy and strategy for economic development and political reforms in Nigeria, First Securities Discount House (FSDH) will holder first annual seminar on March 21, 2000. The seminar is expected to generate participants' interest in relevant socio-economic policy framework and reforms. Professor Ali Mazrui, the renowned African scholar and teacher, shall present the seminar paper titled Economic Development and Political Reform in an Emerging Democracy: The Nigerian Case at an event that is the first among a series planned to hold annually. Mazrui is widely consulted globally on issues relating to constitutional change, education reforms and socio-political engineering. He is also an outstanding authority on socio-political economy and the politics of development in nations whose potential for greater productivity is mostly underutilized. He has served as special adviser to the World Bank and was a member of the Group of Eminent Persons appointed in 1992 by the Organisation of African Unity. Prof. Mazrui also served as expert adviser to the United Nations Commission on Transnational Corporations. He is currently the Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities and director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies at Binghamton University, State University of New York. Mazrui has published over 20 books and has research interest in African International Relations, Political Values, Language and Governance in Africa. He is also well remembered for his documentary film titled 'The Africans: A Triple Heritage.' Analysts contend that the FSDH initiative could not have come at a better time. Against the backdrop of the Obasanjo administration's pledge and commitment to socio-economic transformation, the seminar is envisaged to set a trend among key players in the organized private sector (OPS). This implies a challenge to other key players in the OPS to honestly, rigorously and consistently pursue thoughts and initiative that shall ensure not only economic growth, but distributive equity, social justice and economic welfare for all citizens. Mazrui is expected in Nigeria on March 19. He will address the press on March 20 while the seminar will take place on March 21 at the auditorium of the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------