Preamble
The meeting was called to order at 6:45pm by Dr Nandera Mhando (the Head, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at UDSM[1]). After calling the meeting to order, she invited the President (Prof Ike Odimegwu, UNIZIK) and Secretary (Prof Edwin Etieyibo, Wits) of the African Philosophy Society to chair the meeting.
Documents
Three (3) documents were shared with those present at the meeting: the constitution of the African Philosophy Society (APS), agenda of the meeting, and APS membership rates/dues.
As well, APS register for membership and attendance was circulated to members to write their brief bio data.
- Addition to the Meeting Agenda
- Gender matters were raised at the beginning of the meeting and as an item, it was included in the agenda as item 6. This was proposed by Dr Rianna Oelofsen (FH). Dr Serajudeen Owosho (UNILAG) moved the motion for the inclusion of gender matters in the agenda and this was seconded by Akinkpelu Oyekunle (UNISA)
- Opening Remark of APS Executive Committee
- The President of the APS thanked the International Steering Committee for the good work that they did in making sure that the 2019 third Biennial World African Philosophy Conference (APWC) at UDSM in Tanzania came to fruition.
- He also thanked the Steering Committee for ensuring the registration of the APS. The society is registered in Nigeria.
- The Secretary of the APS talked about membership of the APS and gave a brief history about how the society began at Wits with the 2015 first (APWC) with the vision to grow scholars in African philosophy through conferences and sponsorship. He stressed the need for membership registration.
- Profs Helen Lauer (UDSM), Obi Oguejiofor (UNIZIK) and Jim Unah (UNILAG) lent their voices on the need for membership and the payment of dues.
- The Treasurer of the APS, Dr Jonathan Chimakonam (UP) gave the financial update of the society. He noted that of the money realized from the last conference, the second Biennial APWC at UNICAL, one hundred and ten thousand naira (
N110, 000) was used for the registration of the society, leaving the account with the balance of fourteen thousand naira only (N14,000). He added that an account needed to be opened for the payment of dues so as to facilitate the hosting of APWCs, build APS website and set up the right structure that will attract funding going forward.
- Payment of Dues
- Resolutions o Dr Adebayo Aina (OOU) raised the motion that an account be opened for the APS. And it was decided that the APS executive work towards opening an account for the society.
o It was further decided that the Treasurer commence collection of APS’s dues immediately and deposit same in the account that will be opened.
- Notice
o It was noted that (a) the dues collected are for a year and for the year 2019; (b) payment schedule is from January to December, but for any year conference will be held, payment will be made before the conference; (c) payment for multiple years or membership are accepted.
- Dissolution of the International Steering Committee
- Philip Idachaba (KSU) moved the motion for the dissolution of the International Steering Committee, which was seconded by Dr Charles Nweke (UNIZIK).
- Profs Helen Lauer (UDSM) and Britta Saal (UW) noted that nothing has been done so far on the bookstore/online repository.
- Britta Saal (UW)asked to be relieved of any and further duties relating to the bookstore/online committee.
- On Inclusivity
- The APS executive was asked to look into the issues of inclusivity.
- APS Constitution
- Resolutions o That a constitutional review committee be set up that will be all inclusive, with people from different regions of the continent and that will be gender sensitive.
o That the APS Board of Governors be as inclusive as possible.
- Adoption
o After few deliberations, going through the pages of the constitutions page by page, Dr Adebayo Aina (OOU) moved the motion for the adoption of the Interim constitution and was seconded by Dr Mirian Ngozi Alike (UNIZIK).
- Nominations and Acceptance o There were vigorously and heated discussions around nominations and acceptance (see footnote)[2]
- (a) Dr. Mirian Ngozi Alike (UNIZIK) was nominated by Dr. Richmond Kwesi (UG) and seconded by Prof Wilfred Lajul (MU).
- (b) Prof Wilfred Lajul (MU) was nominated by Dr. Charles Nweke (UNIZIK) and seconded by Fr. Dr. Martin Asiegbu (UN).
- (c) Prof Ngozi Ezenwa-Ohaetoo (UNIZIK) was nominated by Fr. Dr. Asiegbu (UN) and seconded by Dr. Osita Nnajiofor (UNIZIK).
- (d) Ms Habiba Seif Tambullu (UDSM) was nominated by Prof Jim Unah (UNILAG) and seconded by Akinkpelu Oyekunle (UNISA).
- (e) Dr. Pius Mosima (UB) was nominated by Dr. Serajudeen Owosho (UNILAG) and seconded by Dr Umezurike John Ezeugwu (NMU2).
- Prof. Wilfred Lajul (MU) was made the chairperson of the constitution review committee, and members of the committee were asked to appointa secretary from among themselves.
- The constitution review committee is given six months to complete its job.
- It was agreed that members of the committee be bona fide members of the APS and to do this they have to make sure that they pay their membership dues when they start their work.
- Next APWC
- The UCC indicated their interests to host the next (fourth Biennial) APWC in 2021 and made a bid for it. Their bid was accepted.
- MU was put down to host the fifth Biennial APWC in 2023.
- It was agreed that the sixth Biennial APWC in 2025 should go to a francophone country and Dr Pius Mosima (UB) will help facilitate that.
- Adjournment of Meeting
- Prof. Jim Unah (UNILAG) moved the motion for the adjournment of the meeting and was seconded by Dr. Adebayo Aina (OOU).
- The meeting was adjourned at 8:40pm
Secretary
December 6, 2019
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Date
Abbreviation and Full Names of Universities
FH = University of Fort Hare, South Africa
KSU = Kogi State University, Nigeria
MU = Makerere University, Uganda
NMU1 = Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
NMU2 = Nigeria Maritime University, Nigeria
OOU = Olabisi Olabanjo University, Nigeria
UB = University of Bamenda, Cameroon
UCC = University of Cape Coast, Ghana
UDSM = University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
UG = University of Ghana, Ghana
UN = University of Nigeria, Nigeria
UNICAL = University of Calabar, Nigeria
UNILAG = University of Lagos, Nigeria
UNISA = University of South Africa, South Africa
UNIZIK – Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria
UP = University of Pretoria, South Africa
UW – University of Wuppertal, Germany
Wits = University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
[1] See page 4 for abbreviation and full names of universities.
[2] Lemogang Pako Modisakeng (NMU1) was nominated for the constitution review committee by Prof Lauer (UDSM) but she indicated some conditions for her acceptance of the nomination. Discussions on this followed, which caused some rowdy moment in the house. The meeting was called to order and given issues around the conditions she gave, she and a few others in support of her left the meeting.
