Conference of Leading Personalities of Eastern Nigerian Origin: An Aspect of Participatory Governance - 1960-1966

This paper is an assessment of the contributions of an ad-hoc body constituted by the leadership of the defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1960, under the Premiership of Dr. Michael Okpara, known as “The Conference of Leading Personalities of Eastern Nigerian Origin”. The body consisted of 400 leading personalities drawn from all parts of the Region, who were experts in various fields of human endeavours. They were saddled with the responsibility of contributing their quota to the development of the region through sound advice to the Government. The first Conference was held from 30th to 31st of December 1960, and from 2nd to 4th March, 1962. The meetings offered the elite the opportunity to assess the various sectors of governance of the Region, and the privilege to make frank assessments and recommendations to the Government. The areas examined and recommendations made included: education, agriculture, health, industry, information, social welfare, etc. The innovation enhanced the participation of the people in governance. The inputs from these experts were ingrained into the Region’s Development Plan (1962 to 1968). This enhanced the performance of the Region and its rating as one of the fastest growing economy in the Third World before the disruption of the First Republic in January 1966. The paper relies on secondary sources emanating from the deliberations of the Conference and adopts a historical narrative methodology.