About Centre for Critical Thinking and Resourceful Research for Africa (CECTRRA)

Brief

Centre for Critical Thinking and Resourceful Research in Africa (CECTRRA) was born out of the desire to close the gap between creative thinking and gullible theories that pervade the African society. The desire for quality knowledge is ever increasing in Africa and the need for data warehouse of information, resources and materials is also on the increase. Ideas, concepts, paradigms, laws ,theories, principles on which truth about the African world is anchored deserve to be questioned and validated all the more .

This demands a more relevant knowledge base and capital and the availability of dedicated thinkers and researchers who areready to redirect the thinking of Africans from lopsided misinformation based on the highly politicised framework on which ideas about the continent are generated to one which will respect the integrity of the intellect through valid, resourceful and relevant knowledge. This defines the mission of CECTTRA the overall Vision of which is to lead African Self Understanding for a more advanced society.

Foundation/History

Centre for Critical Thinking and Resourceful Research in Africa (CECTRRA) was founded by Professor Lawrence OgboUgwuanyi, a University lecturer with 24 years’ experience in teaching philosophy at four difference universities in Nigeria and abroad. His field of specialization /research interest is African Philosophy. He also researches on African Modernity, Theorizing Difference; Afro-Theorism; Environmental Philosophy, Endogenous Knowledge, etc. He has over 50 academic publications; has served as Visiting Scholar at University of South Africa in 2005 and Visiting Associate Professor of Philosophy at Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe in 2014, and Visiting Professor at St Albert Institute for Higher Education, Nigeria in 2017 ...... Read More about the Founder

To provide a scholarly platform for a more devoted attention to critical thinking and to allow same influence emergent thinkers/ scholars/theoreticians from Africa.

Our Mission

The Mission of the Centre is aimed at (re)directing the cause of knowledge production and consumption in and beyond Africa and influencing the quality of ideas that are brought to bear on issues, policies, programmes and activities that define the cause of growth in Africa with the ultimate mission of achieving a more advanced society.

Our Philosophy

That which you know is on your palm; that which you don’t know stands on your head.

Our Activities

1. To provide a resource base for African intellectuals.
2. To carry and disseminate research in different areas of humanities such as African Philosophy,Thought and Culture,Development studies, Ethics, Corruption/Integrity Studies etc.
3. To publish journals locally.
4. To publish an international journal in three official International languages of Africa namely English, French and Portuguese.
5.To cause for influential knowledge  paradigm as will minimize the negative effects of the multi-lingual nature of African society.
6. To liaise with relevant research centres such in organizing seminars in important areas and with outstanding
thinkers from Africa.
7. To organize an international conference bi-annually.
8. To organize a local conference annually in a selected part of Nigeria.
9. To provide consultancy services in the areas of research, training and improved service delivery.

CECTRRA functions through an Inner-Think Tank (made of committed scholars from different aspects of humanities) that studies, analyses and approves all proposed projects.
The recommended projects are to be subjected to more approval through consultation with the Advisory Board.

What We Do

1. Bi-annual Local and International Conferences
2. CECTRRA Distinguished Annual Lectures
3. CECTRRA Annual Seminar on Thinking
4. Documentary/Knowledge Empowerment Programmes
5. African Futures Academy
6. African Civilizational Projects
7. Publication Projects.