Professor Peter  Olapegba, the guest lecturer of the 447th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ibadan, was the cynosure of all eyes as the professor of Psychology and current Dean of Faculty of the Social Science seized the podium to unveil the long anticipated lecture topic: ‘THAT I MAY KNOW’.on the 28th, March 2019.

It was indeed a moment of polling great minds from all works of lives to a sitting. The atmosphere was charged  with eminent personalities of Scholars, Government functionaries, Captains of industries, Chief  Executive Officers of Corporate organizations, Executive Directors , Chairmen of Conglomerates,  Heads of Security agencies ,members of different Academic Unions,  lecturers, students, to mention but few; were well seated  at the international conference center of the University of Ibadan,  with itching ears for what the erudite professor of psychology would make of a topic that sound more scriptural than academicals. It was a memorable moment to give his professorial report card first-hand about his current research works.

 Professor Olapegba said “THAT I MAY KNOW” means a lot that the eyes can meet in an Inaugural lecture postal.

Without any doubt, if research were conducted based on the anticipation of the participants on the outstanding theme; a lot of answers will emanate, most especially from the spiritual perspective. It can be debated indirectly, that some of the participants were there to ease their inquisitive state on the captivating theme, hence the professor without mixing words did justice to.

According to Olapegba, Knowledge is the only light that can defeat the darkness of Ignorance and such knowledge can only manifest when one is burn out with the quest to know the unknown.

He opined that “Indeed Knowledge is power and it must be cultivated for it to be harvested. It must not only be sought and acquired. There is also a moral obligation on those who possess it to make it available to others in a liberal manner”.

According to him, quest for knowledge is the vehicle that drives one, society and the world at large out of the power of Ignorance. “Knowledge  is about knows, knowing the truth to be free from the power of ignorance.” He stated.

In his quest to know, Professor Olapegba took his time to not only dig out some common societal issues pestering the human existence which measures from family/marital violence, sexual harassment, sexuality, victimization to the phenomenon of quality of life, but also harness as a lead in finding a lasting solution.

The ebullient professor noted that Man by nature is wired with zeal to seek knowledge because knowledge gives the capacity to explore and sustain the environment. Through knowledge therefore, man has been able to create a conducive environment for people to succeed in their different facets of life, hence man never cease to rest until he knows more than he earlier know.

Driving his points home, he raised some questions stating clearing the need for continuous seeking for knowledge in order to solve problems which has eaten deep in human existence.

“How does one explain the mindless looting going on in Nigeria?

“What is in the mind of those stealing humongous amounts of money and keeping same in septic tanks? What will we find in the minds of those slaughtering fellow human beings without batting eyelids?

“How does one explain the mind of those who pay workers pittance but go home monthly with millions of naira for sitting in coloured chambers to shout “those not in support say nay, the ayes have it”?

“Indeed the heart of man is desperately wicked and we must search it “that we may know”.

The erudite professor called on leaders at all level to create a  level playing field between the rich and the poor for our country and indeed Africa to be a better place for all.

The Vice chancellor of the University, Professor A.I Olayinka who was also the Chairman of the occasion was full of praises for Professor Peter Olapegba for doing justice to the topic.