5 replies to this topic

[Bruce Klein]

The largest chapter of WTA recently gathered for a meeting of speeches, dances, and exchange about the promise of transhumanism.. the following speech by Innocent Ogu is worth a browse for insight into why people would embrace transhumanism.

LINK: http://www.transhuma...ess.htm#address

THE INAUGURAL CONFERENCE OF THE
TRANSHUMANIST ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA
JANUARY 27-29, 2003
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT CAMPUS
Meeting Report
Programme Outline
Address of the Chapter Coordinator, Innocent Ogu



Innocent Ogu addressing the conference

AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE CHAPTER CO-ORDINATOR
The Governor of River State, Dr. Peter Odili,

The World Chapter Representatives Nationwide,

The Vice Chancellor University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Nimi Briggs,

Representatives of Various Arms of Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

His Royal Highnesses,

Ndi Ezes,

All Title holders,

Gentlemen of the Press,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am filled with delight to welcome you to this august meeting / conference of the World Transhumanist Association (WTA) Nigeria chapter (Transhumanist Association of Nigeria) taking place in the apex institution of learning, the university of Port Harcourt, Rivers State campus this day the 27th of January 2003. This meeting / conference is to last for 3 days. We chose here because the association deals with research and human efforts that are positive to life and living as a whole. The Vice chancellor being at the helm of affairs both in this University and in the gathering of today has suggested or proved it all that the Transhumanist Association is a life supporting, scientific association.

Transhumanist is a supportive life phenomenon. This suggests that life itself is not complete without support or proper organization. Life well organized is life well lived. Some people live their lives by taking to drinking, or some other negative vices which instead of supporting life, terminate it prematurely. Transhumanist rather goes against these negative vices. It makes life get fulfilled abundantly by suggesting or applying the necessity that support longevity and healthier existence of man. It is technologically oriented.

You can agree with me that stress-free life provides for longevity and promotion of health. With the advent of Internet, people do their browsing and e-mail contacts easily without having to wait for several months by surface posting of letters and expectancy of replies to these messages sent through such time consuming devices. Transhumanists work against these odds. They think and create avenues for easier, faster and more organized ways of achieving results rapidly through scientific approach that does not pose any threat to the existence of man – the telephone, handsets, internet ready computers, fast-take blood glucose instruments, cloning of human beings to mention but a few. All these are to better human lives and living generally. These are basically the initiatives of Transhumanists. The essence is to make a human being live a fulfilled, productive and healthier life as prescribed by nature. It is meant to continue where human effort stops. Technologically, most of ingenuities are achieved. Science has it all and God himself is science.

These achievements of the association are naturally / scientifically based. All these achievements or findings are proofs that can be expanded, through research and more advanced ingenuity geared towards making human beings get relaxed and fulfilled life expectancy. Technology has a big role to play in the invention of airplanes where people instead of trekking can now to fly to their destinations easily with ease. These discoveries continue where the normal human beings ability stops. Nobody would have had the opportunity of getting across the globe without these aids that were put together by brains of technologist. These are the works of transhumanists. People enjoy these ingenuous discoveries.

I am exceedingly happy that when I sold the idea of forming the Nigerian Chapter of this noble association to some futurist friends, a lot of these intellectuals nationwide jumped at it and that is why we are having this gathering of who is who here today. Just before this inaugural meeting, a total number of 150 intellectuals from various discipline of life here registered to become members of this association. Maybe some other intending ones are by the corner waiting to be registered. Just like the association is international. The oriented members will be gathered from people of sound minds and scientific repute to qualify for the challenges.

To allow for achievements of ideas and stipulated entry requirements, a committee that has the regulation for membership will endorse after proper scrutiny of intending members. The committee is headed by the Nigeria chapter coordinator in the person of Engineer Innocent. N. Ogu. Further more the membership strength will be sent to our head quarters oversea periodically. At least for now we have succeeded in bringing this cream of intellectuals into this association and many will join after this inauguration as indication that most of the association idea will be achieved in no distant future.

APPEAL
We use this medium to all that are present here today and our parent body overseas that this being a research oriented association, we are in urgent need of an enabling research center and materials. A library that is rich in some requisite materials like Internet-ready computers and books that can be consulted in urgent needs. Nigeria is enjoying democracy now, there is time and relaxed mind to do positive things for humanity in the way scientific research and ingenious findings. We are grateful to scientists like Michael Faraday, Isaac Newton, Socrates, to mention but a few who made us (the World reach this far). A lot of us feel challenged by their discoveries and want to continue to make some more breakthrough before the end of life in us. We are dedicated to doing a lot of research work to achieving excellence. Our focus is more findings and breakthrough for the easier existence of human life to achieving fulfilled, healthier longevity.

I will enjoin every member that like I continue to reiterate that the association is for minds that are ready to share positive ingenuity together with the aim of achieving or score greater heights for humanity and posterity. It will be of note that this kind of gathering in this vein has not happened else where in this nation before so all hand must be on deck for the positive realization of the noble ideas of the association.

Welcome everyone and I wish you happier stay in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, positive deliberation and more scientific breakthroughs.

Good luck and thanks,

Engineer Innocent N Ogu.

Nigeria Chapter Co-ordinator.

[yose]

Great example to the rest of the world

[Bruce Klein]

ACTIVITY REPORT OF TRANSHUMANIST ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA FOR THE MONTH OF
JULY 2003


Submitted by TAN Chair, Ogu Innocent


The enlightenment team of the Transhumanist Association of Nigeria took
a scheduled trip to Ikeduru local government area of Imo state on Monday
21st July 2003 where the anxious officers and the citizens were waiting.


At about noon, the hall of the central school venue of the meeting was
filled to capacity. Over fifty people were there - people of diverse
professions and officials of the local government including Mr.
Igbonekwu, the Chairman of the local. Government.


Some minutes later, after the introduction the lecturer of the day and
the team leader who is also the chair- Transhumanist Association of
Nigeria (TAN) engineer Innocent R. Ogu started the talks which had the
theme, "The use of computer in business outfits'


Naturally, he started by describing and introducing the subject matter.
Everyone in the gathering listened with wrapped attention.


Among the things he taught was that computer is a wonder machine that
can be used for a lot of things including stock keeping, printing of
handbills, pictures, when a digital camera is applied, then printing of
vouchers, like receipts, LPOs and several other things including wedding
cards, complimentary cards, bills of sorts etc.


He went further to tell them that computer can be used to send letters
across the world within seconds- as you can switch on electric light
before removing your fingers from the switch, the light would have been
on - in a flash.


The computer can also be used to make phone calls across the world. In
short, that the computer has the fastest brain ever can be imagined.
This is a machine that continues beyond the limitations of the human
brain if properly manipulated.


The word to it is commands. Give the computer the right command and it
will give you the right answer.


For the reason that there is no electric power supply to the local
government, the computer hardware was not demonstrated to the regrets of
both organizers of the lecture and the audience.


The local government chairman however promised to supply or provide
power when next the team would visit. In continuation of the lecture,
they were told that for the traders and business men amongst them what
the computer can handle in packages like pastel which is used to record
and determine the influx of goods and sales over a periods of time, it
could be done on monthly or quarterly basis to determine the amount of
transaction within the said period of time for proper organization.


He went further to say that the computer could even be used to play
indoor games assuming you work for a long time and would want to relax,
you can play games on it. Music is equally provided. Home video films
can be played back and watched on the screens of computers just as you
do with the home video tape recorders and televisions.


The only difference is that the software the computer uses is smaller
than that of the V.T.R and that of the computer is more compact and
could contain more information than that of the video tape recorder
(VTR).


The advent of computer has changed the sphere of the entire universe as
of today. It has made a lot of things for men. In short it continues
from the limitations of sound brain though it is man - made.


Man in a bid to relax within his limits has employed an electronic
slave- the computer to continue beyond his limitations.


Gentlemen that is where we are most concerned with. To add a lot more of
what other scientist who are humans like us who discovered that, would
be worthy of note and importance to the future generation after us.


It will help us to live beyond our mortal time. We would be immortalized
after this realm.


Before we get to the later, we should acquaint ourselves with the
fundamentals of computers - the operational, application to solving some
immediate environmental things, our day to day manipulations and
seriously thinking of how we can further develop the limitations it has
for now.


We sincerely believe that a lot more things could be derived and added
to the existing features of the wonder machine.


People should bear in mind that there has to be, discovered scientific
breakthroughs that could help human beings to elongated life
actualization.


It is on this note that the lecturer stopped and asked for some
questions and contributions.


Questions were asked which bordered on the lecture:


How could the computer be demonstrated to them?


How long would it take for the acquisition of operational skills to be
had?


How often would they be having such lectures on the wonder machine?


Could they be given some publications on the computer as excerpts?


Could human beings develop further than where they are now?


All the questions raised were given satisfactory answers to the
astonishment of the audience .


At the end of the brain teasing sessions , the local government chairman
thanked the Transhumanist Association of Nigeria for making history in
that part of the world by introducing the lecture on computer and asked
for more time in the future to visit and update on the discoveries and
more so the computer itself.


Reacting, the chair Transhumanist Association of Nigeria thanked them
for a good welcome and promised to keep them abreast of events of the
Association.


The team was treated to a galla evening with a local drama presented by
pupils of Ikeduru central school - " The electronic age''


The head teacher of the school Mr. Paul Amanze was full of delight when
he presented his pupils for the drama.


A cultural troupe "Nmanwu Umunneoha' performed to the admiration of the
audience. And the party left for Lagos that same evening to continue
with another local government area.

[Saille Willow]

Bruce

After I read the Activity Report, I puzzled over why you posted it. Did you post it to highlight the plight of us Africans? Did you post it to show how against all odds the will is there to succeed as an example to the rest of the world?

It is interesting that Dr. Lee Berger said in an interview that all major advancements of the human race first came from Africa and that he believed that the same will aply to the future of humanity. Watch this space.

[Bruce Klein]

Saille,

Ah, Sorry for not initially posting commentary as I mainly wanted to show how a group can so readily organize and grow even from such comparably humble surrounding and beginnings. Comparisons might even be make to ImmInst as we are just starting out and have laughable goals if asked by many, yet our conviction is strong and our numbers seem to be growing as well.

[Bruce Klein]

TRANSHUMANIST ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA
CONFERENCE 2004 (TAN): ROBOTICS AND AFRICA

January 22-24, 2004

>From January 22-24, 2004, the TRANSHUMANIST ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA will
hold a national conference with the theme 'Robotics and Africa' in Lagos
Nigeria.


The conference is intended to attract both Nigerian and non-Nigerian
transhumanists, and to educate the public about the exciting potentials
of robotics in industry, medicine and space. The 3-day conference will
feature cultural displays and dramas, and state governors, ministers of
information and technology, education and other relevant dignitaries
that are expected to grace the occasion.


We are working towards publishing the programme of the events before the
middle of October so as to enable participants, discussants and
lecturers to get well prepared for the arduous task. We are going to
put all energy to achieving the best conference in top gear so that
anybody that comes around would feel satisfied and further challenged.



For more information contact the chair of the Transhumanist Association
of Nigeria:
Engr. Innocent Ogu
inomina@yahoo.com
#75 Ojuelegba Road, 2nd floor
Surulere Lagos Nigeria
Telefax: 234-84-610670
Telephone: 234-8023020085