Innocent Ogu addressing the conference

AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE CHAPTER CO-ORDINATOR

The Governor of River State, Dr. Peter Odili,

The World Chapter Representatives Nationwide,

The Vice Chancellor University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Nimi Briggs,

Representatives of Various Arms of Government of the Federal Republic of  Nigeria,

His Royal Highnesses,

Ndi Ezes,

All Title holders,

Gentlemen of the Press,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am filled with delight to welcome you to this august meeting / conference of the World Transhumanist Association (WTA) Nigeria chapter (Transhumanist Association of Nigeria) taking place in the apex institution of learning, the university of Port Harcourt, Rivers State campus this day the 27^th of January 2003. This meeting / conference is to last for 3 days. We chose here because the association deals with research and human efforts that are positive to life and living as a whole. The Vice chancellor being at the helm of affairs both in this University and in the gathering of today has suggested or proved it all that the Transhumanist Association is a life supporting, scientific association.

Transhumanist is a supportive life phenomenon. This suggests that life itself is not complete without support or proper organization. Life well organized is life well lived. Some people live their lives by taking to drinking, or some other negative vices which instead of supporting life, terminate it prematurely. Transhumanist rather goes against these negative vices. It makes life get fulfilled abundantly by suggesting or applying the necessity that support longevity and healthier existence of man. It is technologically oriented.

You can agree with me that stress-free life provides for longevity and promotion of health. With the advent of Internet, people do their browsing and e-mail contacts easily without having to wait for several months by surface posting of letters and expectancy of replies to these messages sent through such time consuming devices. Transhumanists work against these odds. They think and create avenues for easier, faster and more organized ways of achieving results rapidly through scientific approach that does not pose any threat to the existence of man – the telephone, handsets, internet ready computers, fast-take blood glucose instruments, cloning of human beings to mention but a few. All these are to better human lives and living generally. These are basically the initiatives of Transhumanists. The essence is to make a human being live a fulfilled, productive and healthier life as prescribed by nature. It is meant to continue where human effort stops. Technologically, most of ingenuities are achieved. Science has it all and God himself is science.

These achievements of the association are naturally / scientifically based. All these achievements or findings are proofs that can be expanded, through research and more advanced ingenuity geared towards making human beings get relaxed and fulfilled life expectancy. Technology has a big role to play in the invention of airplanes where people instead of trekking can now to fly to their destinations easily with ease. These discoveries continue where the normal human beings ability stops. Nobody would have had the opportunity of getting across the globe without these aids that were put together by brains of technologist. These are the works of transhumanists. People enjoy these ingenuous discoveries.

I am exceedingly happy that when I sold the idea of forming the Nigerian Chapter of this noble association to some futurist friends, a lot of these intellectuals nationwide jumped at it and that is why we are having this gathering of who is who here today. Just before this inaugural meeting, a total number of 150 intellectuals from various discipline of life here registered to become members of this association. Maybe some other intending ones are by the corner waiting to be registered. Just like the association is international. The oriented members will be gathered from people of sound minds and scientific repute to qualify for the challenges.

To allow for achievements of ideas and stipulated entry requirements, a committee that has the regulation for membership will endorse after proper scrutiny of intending members. The committee is headed by the Nigeria chapter coordinator in the person of Engineer Innocent. N. Ogu. Further more the membership strength will be sent to our head quarters oversea periodically. At least for now we have succeeded in bringing this cream of intellectuals into this association and many will join after this inauguration as indication that most of the association idea will be achieved in no distant future.

APPEAL

We use this medium to all that are present here today and our parent body overseas that this being a research oriented association, we are in urgent need of an enabling research center and materials. A library that is rich in some requisite materials like Internet-ready computers and books that can be consulted in urgent needs. Nigeria is enjoying democracy now, there is time and relaxed mind to do positive things for humanity in the way scientific research and ingenious findings. We are grateful to scientists like Michael Faraday, Isaac Newton, Socrates, to mention but a few who made us (the World reach this far). A lot of us feel challenged by their discoveries and want to continue to make some more breakthrough before the end of life in us. We are dedicated to doing a lot of research work to achieving excellence. Our focus is more findings and breakthrough for the easier existence of human life to achieving fulfilled, healthier longevity.

I will enjoin every member that like I continue to reiterate that the association is for minds that are ready to share positive ingenuity together with the aim of achieving or score greater heights for humanity and posterity. It will be of note that this kind of gathering in this vein has not happened else where in this nation before so all hand must be on deck for the positive realization of the noble ideas of the association.

Welcome everyone and I wish you happier stay in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, positive deliberation and more scientific breakthroughs.

Good luck and thanks,

Engineer Innocent N Ogu.

Nigeria Chapter Co-ordinator.