Professor Pat Utomi’s 70th birthday became a moment of national reflection on ideas, ethics, and leadership as scholars, journalists, public officials, and private-sector leaders gathered at a Prime Business Africa webinar on Thursday to honour his life and work.
Speakers at the event described Utomi as one of Nigeria’s most consistent public intellectuals—an independent thinker whose influence has extended far beyond classrooms into governance debates, civic movements, and national consciousness.
Dr. Marcel Mbamalu, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Prime Business Africa, said Utomi represents a rare example of principled leadership in a public space often defined by compromise. He noted that Utomi’s humility, accessibility, and refusal to trade values for power have earned him respect across generations. According to Mbamalu, this moral steadiness, even when costly, is the true measure of Utomi’s greatness.
Keynote speaker, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, traced Utomi’s public relevance to his early adulthood, recalling his years as a journalist covering Utomi at The Guardian. He said Utomi’s interventions consistently shaped public discourse, noting that his early rise explains why many still find it hard to reconcile his age with his enduring energy. Adeniyi highlighted Utomi’s scholarship on governance, particularly his work on state capture, which exposes how elite interests subvert public institutions. He urged leaders to embrace Utomi’s view of leadership as a people-centred relationship capable of transforming society.
Professor Bongo Adi of Lagos Business School described Utomi as an intellectual force whose writings have influenced generations of readers and scholars. He recalled how Utomi’s newspaper columns became required reading for many young Nigerians. Adi noted that while Utomi is formally an economist, his writing reflects literary finesse. He identified aesthetics, truth, and ethics as the core values running through Utomi’s work and referenced his contributions to Lagos Business School and civic movements such as the Obedient Movement.
Professor of Mass Communication, Chinyere Okunna, said Utomi’s long-standing emphasis on ethics remains central to Nigeria’s development crisis. She pointed to his public support for Peter Obi during the Labour Party defection in Asaba as a reflection of his commitment to people-centred leadership. Okunna urged Utomi to remain active, stressing that many young Nigerians continue to draw guidance from his example.
Professor Okey Ikechukwu described Utomi as a man whose integrity is intrinsic rather than performative. He said Utomi’s achievements were built on diligence and moral clarity, not political privilege, adding that his ideas would endure beyond his lifetime.
Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, said Utomi has sustained national relevance by consistently contributing to public discourse outside government. He observed that while many of Utomi’s contemporaries lost influence after leaving office, Utomi’s intellectual presence has remained strong through books, columns, and civic engagement. Chidoka warned against Nigeria’s growing distrust of knowledge and expertise, describing Utomi as a model of thoughtful, competence-driven leadership.
Moderating the discussion, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo described Utomi as “an elephant” across fields, noting that the diversity of participants celebrating him reflected the breadth of his impact. He said Utomi’s lifelong commitment to speaking truth to power and resisting elite capture has defined his public engagement.
In his closing remarks, Professor Utomi reflected on the values, discipline, and mentorship that shaped his journey. He said he had no regrets about his life’s path, emphasising the role of delayed gratification and strong principles in guiding his choices. Expressing gratitude for enduring relationships and goodwill, Utomi said ideas often mature beyond the generation that first introduces them, adding that he remains hopeful about Nigeria’s future.
The webinar concluded with participants affirming Professor Utomi’s legacy as a principled intellectual, a public educator, and a persistent advocate for a more ethical and just Nigeria. Professor Utomi also serves as Editorial Board Chairman of Prime Business Africa.
Pat Utomi at 70 Honoured for Ideas, Integrity, Lifelong Service
