With our decrepit health infrastructure and largely demotivated personnel, controlling the spread of the virus is certainly going to be a herculean task.

The matter is further compounded by the current trade dispute where Lecturers in Federal Universities are yet to receive their February salary, and not likely to receive any in the coming months. The situation in State Universities is not any better. Unfortunately, and regrettably too, the recent application by the Federal Government for a whopping 22 billion dollar loan did not take into consideration the pathetic condition of public universities in Nigeria.

The coincidence of the uncertain outcomes of both COVID-19 and the current ASUU Strike on the psyche of our members is better imagined than described. Amidst the anxiety and apprehension of the perilous period we are in, is to take the gauntlet, and ask ourselves.

what would our founding fathers do if confronted with similar scenarios? Humanity, over the ages, has faced strikingly similar crises, and Sociologists and Anthropologists have risen to provide insights, meanings and intelligible pathways. Pursuant to our calling, and our mandate as sociological and anthropological teachers and practitioners, we must deeply reflect on the events of this period. and come up with studies and lessons therefrom.

In doing this however, I urge that we please stay safe, observe the instructions and directives from concerned civil and political authorities. Let us share our different experiences in our schools. communities and localities through different means and opportunities particularly in the new media.

Our Conference, in November is still on course. It may be interesting and exciting to fully interrogate these health and other concerns from informed sociological and anthropological perspectives. We shall continue to monitor developments and brief you accordingly.

Please stay safe and accept the assurances of our best wishes.

Prof. Nkemdili Au. Nnonyelu
President, NASA