As Professor Mabel Igender discoursetohanosa Evwierhoma of the University of Abuja turns 50, there will be a public presentation of a festschrift, Gender Discourse in African Theatre, Literature and Visual Arts, in her honour.

The book, edited by two renowned theatre scholars, Tracie Chima Utoh-Ezeajugh of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), is a collection of well researched essays from scholars and practitioners of diverse fields, friends and associates of Professor Mabel Evwierhoma.

Evwierhoma, who is the Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Abuja, and also a resource person in NICO Training School, Abuja Study Centre, is presented in the publication by contributors as a dogged theatre scholar, who has researched, written, taught and contributed immensely to the theatre, culture and gender, as well as women-centred ideology in Nigeria and across Africa.

The book launch, which takes place, Thursday, 7th May, 2015 as part of the events lined up for the Mabel @ 50 Conference, which holds from 7th-8th May, 2015, at the Pope John Paul II Catholic Centre, No. 22 Banjui Street, Wuse II, Abuja by 10am prompt, will have the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Amb. (Dr.) Godknows Igali, CON, as the chairman of the occasion, and the Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Professor Michael Adikwu as the chief host.

According to the Secretary of the Conference Organizing Committee, Mrs. Roseline Ande Yacim, the Vice-Chancellor, Sokoto State University, Professor NuhuYaqub is father of the day, the Akajiaku I of Iba, Lagos, Chief (Mrs.) Gladys Theodora Russell will be mother of the day, while Prince Felix Osula of the Osula Royal family, Benin, will be Royalty of the day.

The programme will feature paper presentations, with the President of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA), Professor Sunnie Ododo as the keynote speaker, Professor Foluke Ogunleye of the University of Botswana as the lead paper presenter, and Professor Irene Sakami-Agunloye as the book reviewer.

Nwagbo Pat Obi

NICO Training School

Abuja Study Centre