Come tomorrow, 14th March, 2026, Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University (KOMU) is poised to become the epicenter of critical developmental discourse as it announces its 2nd International Conference on Liberal Arts and Management Sciences.
The event which which began yesterday, Thursday 12th and to end March to Saturday 14th March 2026, the conference will bring together global thought leaders, academics, policymakers, and students to confront one of the continent’s most pressing issues: poverty and income inequality.
Under the theme “Poverty and Income Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Pathway to Inclusive and Sustainable Development,” the hybrid event (physical and virtual) aims to move beyond theoretical debates to forge actionable, multidisciplinary pathways for change.
The university has assembled a formidable lineup of experts to guide the discourse. Delivering the keynote address will be Prof. Charles Ogbulogo, Vice Chancellor of Maduka University, Enugu.
He will be joined by two distinguished lead paper presenters: Prof. Uchenna J. Emelonye from the Centre for Human Rights, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and Prof. Aloy Chijioke Onyeka, Vice Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology (Innovation), Omuma (USTO).
Welcoming participants to the historic occasion, the Chief Host and Vice Chancellor of KOMU, Prof. I.N.S. Dozie, emphasized the university’s commitment to fostering solutions-driven scholarship.
“This conference is not just an academic exercise; it is a call to action. By dissecting the complexities of poverty and inequality through the lenses of the liberal arts and management sciences, we aim to provide evidence-based strategies that can reshape the future of our region,” Prof. Dozie stated.
As gathered, the participants will engage in deep-dive sessions organized around three core thematic clusters: Economic Growth and Inclusive Prosperity: This cluster will explore macroeconomic policies, entrepreneurship, MSME development, corporate ethics, wage equity, and inclusive marketing strategies that drive growth from the ground up.
.Social Justice and Human Development: Focusing on the human element, this track will cover financial inclusion, the psychological impact of poverty, mental health, grassroots empowerment, and the role of cultural and humanities frameworks in building equitable societies.
· Innovation and National Development: Looking toward the future, this stream will address biotechnological solutions for food security, public health innovations, climate resilience, digital literacy, and cross-sector partnerships for youth and women empowerment.
In a significant move to democratize knowledge, KOMU has announced a call for papers, inviting scholars, postgraduate students, practitioners, and development agencies to submit their research for consideration. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a growing body of work aimed at tackling Sub-Saharan Africa’s developmental challenges.
For those unable to attend in person, the conference will be accessible virtually. Online attendees can participate in the plenary sessions and presentations via the university’s official conference portal: http://komu.edu.ng/live.
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) encourages all interested individuals to register and be part of this vital conversation. For inquiries regarding paper submissions, registration, or logistics, please contact the LOC Chairman, Dr. Success Ikechi Kanu, or the LOC Secretary, Dr. Obi Emeka Francis, at 0819517844, 07030305905, or 08023168077.
This 2nd International Conference promises to be a pivotal event for charting a new course toward inclusive and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa. The academic community and the public are warmly invited to Ideato to contribute to this important dialogue.
