Nigeria on Thursday marked the 70th birthday of renowned political economist and public intellectual Pat Utomi, with reflections that highlighted a lifetime devoted to scholarship, moral leadership and the pursuit of good governance.
The milestone was commemorated through a series of events, including a symposium in Enugu State and a celebration in Delta State, his home state. The Enugu gathering, held at the Amadeus Centre, drew academics, professionals, civic leaders and a large number of young people, offering a portrait of Prof. Utomi as a thinker whose influence cuts across generations.
Widely regarded as a man of exceptional breadth, Prof. Utomi is deeply grounded in economics, faith, public affairs and politics. Over the decades, he has earned a reputation as a rigorous scholar and an original public intellectual, able to draw effortlessly from classical texts, religious traditions and contemporary political economy. Those familiar with his work often describe him as a teacher of teachers, a description he himself embraces, consistently referring to his primary identity as that of a teacher.
One striking feature of the Enugu symposium was the overwhelming presence of young people, with more than 80 per cent of attendees made up of university and college undergraduates. Observers noted that the scene itself was symbolic, suggesting that while older generations may have struggled to translate ideas into national transformation, a new generation remains open to learning, reflection and reform.
In his address, Prof. Utomi centred his reflections on gratitude and the dignity of the human person. He emphasised that the true purpose of life lies in the elevation of human dignity and that recognising creation as a gift imposes a moral obligation to act justly toward all. In illustrating this point, he referenced ethical traditions such as Jainism, noting its radical commitment to non-violence and reverence for every form of life as an example of moral seriousness taken to its furthest logical conclusion.
He also recalled a deeply personal childhood experience during the Nigerian civil war in Asaba, where he was lined up among those to be executed before the intervention of a superior officer saved his life. That moment, he suggested, left an indelible mark on his consciousness and helped shape his lifelong sensitivity to injustice and the sanctity of human life.
Prof. Utomi spoke further about his enduring concern with poverty, particularly poverty accompanied by hunger, a theme that has defined much of his academic research and public engagement. He described the birthday gathering not as an occasion for self-celebration but as an opportunity to share ideas, noting that he had long resolved to mark his birthdays with serious discussion rather than fanfare.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s development trajectory, he referenced the work of his friend, Prof. Peter Lewis, especially the book Growing Apart, lamenting how countries that once looked up to Nigeria as a model have since overtaken it. His remarks conveyed a sense of pain rooted in watching the country drift away from paths that once promised shared prosperity and institutional strength.
Despite health challenges disclosed in previous years, Prof. Utomi has remained active in public life, continuing his advocacy for good governance, accountability and national renewal. He acknowledged personal regrets that decades of speaking and writing may not have achieved the level of national impact he had hoped for, invoking the idea of Nigeria’s public discourse as a “dialogue of the deaf,” where truth often struggles to break through entrenched positions.
Yet he also expressed quiet confidence that ideas endure beyond their immediate reception. Drawing parallels from history, he noted that many thinkers whose views were rejected in their own time later shaped civilizations. The presence of young people attentively listening and taking notes at the celebration served as a living reminder that his ideas are still finding fertile ground.
As Nigeria celebrates Prof. Pat Utomi at 70, many see his life as a testament to intellectual courage, moral consistency and public service. In an era often marked by expediency and compromise, his voice continues to stand as a call to conscience, offering inspiration to a new generation committed to justice, dignity and good governance.
