The Director of Academic Planning at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Prof. Hannah Etta, has called for deliberate efforts to address the gaps in education, religion, governance and family life in order to strengthen social cohesion in Nigeria.
Etta made the call while delivering the 12th Inaugural Lecture of the university in Calabar, titled, “Links, Linkages and the Missing Links: From DNA Backbones to Social Cohesion.”
A Professor of Genetics and Biotechnology in the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Etta described the lecture as an intellectual journey that connected the origin of life to the structure of contemporary society.
She examined different forms of linkages in society, particularly in education, religion, politics, governance and family life, drawing parallels between biological connections and the relationships that hold society together.
According to her, society risks instability when critical connections between individuals and institutions are weakened or broken.
Speaking on education, Etta compared the relationship between mentors and mentees to the transfer of genetic material from parents to offspring, stressing that the continuous transfer of knowledge is essential to producing future generations of intellectuals.
“Just like genetics has to do with the transfer of genes from parents to offspring, educational linkage has to do with the transfer of knowledge from the mentor to the mentee, and that perpetuates the generation of intellectuals. If there’s a missing link in that transfer, there’s going to be chaos,” she said.
The professor also examined the role of religion in promoting peaceful coexistence, expressing concern over the religious divisions that continue to affect Nigeria.
She noted that the country’s religious dichotomy had often contributed to divisions between communities, warning that persistent conflict could undermine the development of a knowledgeable and cohesive society.
“In a place like Nigeria, we have seen that our dichotomy has always been religion. The North, core North, Muslims; South here, Christians. And there’s always that conflict,” Etta said.
She stressed the responsibility of academics, particularly lecturers, to help preserve the link between knowledge, understanding and peaceful coexistence.
According to her, Nigerians must work towards closing the gaps that divide society and develop mechanisms for peaceful coexistence despite religious, political and social differences.
She also drew attention to the family, warning that excessive emphasis on career advancement by parents at the expense of raising their children could create gaps in family relationships.
Etta urged Nigerians to identify and bridge such gaps, saying stronger connections among individuals, families and institutions were necessary for a stable and cohesive society.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of UNICROSS, Prof. Francisca Bassey, commended Etta for her contributions to the development of the university and described her as a diligent and result-oriented member of staff.
Bassey highlighted Etta’s role in several initiatives that have contributed to the institution’s growth, including collaborations, the introduction of new academic programmes and the accreditation exercise conducted by the university.
The Vice-Chancellor said Etta’s commitment and ability to deliver results had made a significant impact on the institution.
She expressed pride in Etta’s contributions and urged other members of staff to emulate her dedication to duty.
The inaugural lecture provided an academic platform for examining the relationship between biological linkages and the social connections required to promote stability, knowledge transfer and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
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