ASABA/Nigeria: The Maris Trust Council (MTC) on Thursday expressed appreciation to regular participants, prospective attendees and members of the public for the overwhelming response and preparations ahead of the 2026 edition of the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
In a statement signed by its Secretary, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, the council said the reactions that followed the call for public nominations of a keynote speaker and suggested lecture topics showed a growing interest in this year’s programme and a heightened public readiness for the annual discourse.
Egugbo disclosed that at the close of nominations on Wednesday night, the council received 33 names of potential keynote speakers and 64 suggested topics for discussion, an indication, he said, that attendance and participation would surpass that of previous editions.
“This clearly shows that more people will attend this year’s edition of the Maris Public Service Lecture, which traditionally holds on the Wednesday before Easter Sunday (Holy Wednesday), and for this year, April 1, 2026,” the statement read.
The council thanked members of the public who submitted suggestions through phone calls, text messages and WhatsApp, noting that the collective sacrifice and commitment displayed over the last three weeks reflected a shared desire to build an egalitarian society through constructive dialogue.
According to the statement, nominations opened on December 28, 2025, and closed on January 21, 2026, in line with the Maris Lecture calendar. The council said it would now carefully review the suggested topics and shortlist three to be presented to the eventual keynote speaker, who would also be selected from the nominees submitted by the public.
Describing the Maris Lecture as an inclusive platform dedicated to offering solutions to societal challenges, the council expressed gratitude to Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for creating a conducive environment in Delta State for international intellectual engagement.
“As we move into the selection stage, we rely on your prayers for God’s guidance to provide a speaker who will do justice to the topic, especially bearing in mind the many political activities taking place this year,” Egugbo said.
He added that the keynote speaker and the chosen topic would be unveiled in the coming days, while inviting the public to continue preparations for the lecture, which is scheduled to hold at noon on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
