The University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka says it is continuing with the interdisciplinary conference on witchcraft scheduled for Tuesday.
Rumours had indicated that the conference was cancelled after receiving disapproval from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
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However, convener of the conference, the director of B.I.C. Ijomah Centre for Policy Studies, UNN, Prof. Egodi Uchendu, said in a statement on Monday that knowledge shared at the conference would benefit religious leaders in their work for the gospel.
She also invited CAN and PFN and the general public to the academic session where papers, books and journals on witchcraft would be reviewed and discussed.
“The subject of the conference is Witchcraft. That’s the topic of the academic engagement and NOT a gathering of witches,” the statement said.
“Church pastors discuss witchcraft regularly and preach against it all the time, drawing from their experiences during their training and in their ministries. I am sure the information from this conference and the research findings would assist them in their work for the gospel.
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“Surprisingly, some persons erroneously concluded that only witches can discuss witchcraft. We are not witches. We are professors and scholars who are intrigued by this phenomenon of witchcraft. Our conference is a mere academic discussion where we shall review journals, information gathered over the years on the subject matter. That is what scholars do and this should not cause alarm.
“Several of the organisers of this conference are practising born again Christians who preach the gospel and live by the gospel. I am personally aware of the stand of the gospel on Witchcraft. Since this is not a gathering of witches by witches, we are also allowed as scholars to discuss such topics. Our conference is all about the advancement of knowledge. The body of Christ generally, including CAN, will also benefit from our findings.”
