ASABA/Nigeria: A retired United States soldier and intelligence analyst, Mr. Kingsley Dike, has described Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, as fast evolving into Nigeria’s equivalent of Chatham House, citing the growing influence and intellectual depth of the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.
Dike, a former Foreign Affairs Reporter with The Guardian Newspapers and retired Intelligence Analyst with the United States Army, made the remark while reacting to the lineup of speakers and theme for the 2026 edition of the lecture series.
Since 2020, the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture has been hosted at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, every Wednesday preceding Easter Sunday. The platform is designed to interrogate national issues and propose practical solutions to pressing societal challenges.
This year’s edition is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at Unity Hall, with Nigeria’s 17th Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, set to deliver the keynote address titled, “Insecurity: Bane of Nigeria’s Unity and Progress.”
Drawing parallels with Chatham House in London—renowned globally as an independent think tank that bridges academia, business and politics while shaping policy debates—Dike said the Maris Lecture has steadily positioned Asaba and Delta State as a hub for high-level national discourse.
“Sir Fidelis Egugbo, I love this lineup for this very important topic: ‘Insecurity: Bane of Nigeria’s Unity and Progress,’” Dike stated.
“Please continue to make Asaba and Delta State the premier place for ideas to move the country forward. Courtesy of you and the Maris Lecture series, Unity Hall is fast becoming Nigeria’s ‘Chatham House,’ where pressing national and societal issues are deliberated upon, incisive debates are held, and solutions are offered by experienced experts and professionals from all walks of life. This is democracy in action.”
The immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, CON, will serve as Special Guest of Honour at the event, while former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dele Ezeoba, is Chairman of the Occasion.
Other eminent personalities billed for the lecture include Prof. Hope Eghagha and Sir Mike Ejiofor, former Director of the Department of State Services, as discussants. Prof. Kemi Emina, the OdiEga of Ebu Kingdom, will moderate the session.
Responding, Sir Fidelis Egugbo, Secretary of the Maris Trust Council—the organisers of the lecture—and Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, thanked Dike for following the initiative from his base in the United States.
“Collectively, we can build a better society,” Egugbo said, adding that Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori “deserves kudos for being proactive in governance, which has made Delta safe for this lecture to hold annually and has made the state a haven for people with good intentions.”
He emphasized that the Maris Lecture remains participatory and inclusive, providing a forum where diverse voices engage constructively on issues central to Nigeria’s unity and development.
With a theme focused on insecurity and its implications for national cohesion and progress, this year’s edition is expected to deepen conversations around security reform, democratic accountability and the collective responsibility required to safeguard Nigeria’s future.
