By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
University of Cross River State, UNICROSS’ Director of Academic Planning, Professor Hannah Edim Etta, has called on Nigerians to prioritise religious harmony as a way of bridging the “missing links” threatening national cohesion.
The professor of genetics and biotechnology who made the call while answering questions from journalists shortly after delivering the university’s 12th Inaugural Lecture, stated that divisions along faith lines remain one of the biggest gaps in society today.
The academic who gave insight on her lecture titled ‘Links, Linkages and The Missing Links: From DNA Backbones To Social Cohesions,’ described the presentation as “an intellectual journey from the origin of life to the society as it is now.”
Explaining that while she examined linkages in education, politics and governance, she said, “Most importantly, I presented a very intellectual and philosophical thinking on the missing link in the Garden of Eden,” and connected it to current societal fractures.
Espousing on religion, Etta stated that faith “is supposed to bring peace, bring togetherness,” but lamented that Nigeria has continued to struggle with division.
She said, “Especially in a place like Nigeria, we have seen that our dichotomy has always been religious. The North, Far North, core North, Muslims; South, West, East, Christians. And there’s always that conflict, almost every time.”
She stressed, “Even right now, internationally, we are being referred to as a ‘country of particular concern’ because of religious insecurities.”
Prof. Etta argued that the solution lies in deliberately closing those gaps, adding, “It’s also in us. We are supposed to, like, bring all the missing links together and find a way to coexist.
“Not just as Christians or Muslims, any religion, to foster peace in the country, in our societies.”
She added that a society that fails to nurture these linkages risks deeper instability.
The professor, who is also of UNICROSS’ Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, drew parallels between biological and social systems to stress the point.
She stressed, “Just like genetics has to do with transfer of genes from parents to offspring, educational linkage has to do with transfer of knowledge from the mentor to the mentee.”
Warning that “if there’s a missing link in that transfer, there’s going to be chaos, she enthused, “We will have a society bereft of intellectuals.”
Advocating balance in both public and private life, reflecting on personal challenges, she said, “You’re a nursing mother at some time, you’re raising teenagers. it’s too stressful. But you keep going because you have a focus.”
On community, she advised, “Just be good to people. Have a good support system. When you are, you give out goodness, goodness follows you,” adding that six non-biological children who passed through her home had gone on to become university graduates.
Earlier, the UNICROSS’ Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Bassey, described Prof. Etta as one of her dedicated students who had distinguished herself through diligence, commitment and professional excellence.
Prof. Bassey welcomed members of the university Governing Council, academics, university management, staff, students and invited guests and commended the inaugural lecturer for her scholarly contributions.
She encouraged members of the audience to engage meaningfully with the lecturer.
Presenting the citation, Prof. (Mrs.) Robito S. Ekanem of the UNICROSS Department of Guidance and Counselling, highlighted Prof. Etta’s distinguished academic and professional career, including her service as Director of Academic Planning at UNICROSS.
The lecture provided an interdisciplinary perspective linking genetics and biotechnology with social relationships and sustainable development, demonstrating how scientific knowledge can offer insights into some of the challenges confronting society.
The successful delivery of the 12th Inaugural Lecture also underscored the renewed commitment of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bassey, to revive and strengthen the culture of inaugural lectures at UNICROSS.
Since assuming the office last year, Prof. Bassey has encouraged and supported the presentation of inaugural lectures as an important platform for showcasing the intellectual contributions of the university’s scholars and promoting knowledge exchange.
Her commitment to the revival of the tradition is further reflected in the successful delivery of the 12th Inaugural Lecture, providing an avenue for members of the university community and the wider public to engage with cutting-edge scholarship and benefit from the expertise of its professors and senior academics.
