By Udoh Umoh
The Vice Chancellor, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Prof. Okechukwu Onuchuku, has called for positive use of silence to engender social change and build a virile society.
Onuchuku made the expression in Port Harcourt on Wednesday at the opening of the 2026 international conference of the Pragmatics Association of Nigeria (PrAN).
Represented by Prof. Kingdom Orji, former Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Onuchuku stated that the power of silence in communication could not be over emphasised.
“Speaking at the conference themed: “The Pragmatics of Silence” the vice chancellor said: “In life, speech can be silver, but silence is definitely golden”
“Take advantage of this conference to come up with ideas to positively harness the potentials in silence as a communication tool,” he said.
The President of PrAN, Prof. Pius Akhimien said that the conference provided an opportunity for scholarly engagement and interaction on the positive use of silence for social change.
He said that the study of pragmatics had continued to be strategically relevant in human society.
He described the theme of the conference as strategic and well thought-out, saying that silence could be interpreted differently within cultures, societies and homes.
Also speaking, the Convener, Prof. Ibiere Ken-Maduako, described the conference as an exciting moment to explore the communicative imports of silence.
Ken-Maduako, also the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, stated that verbal behaviour was not enough to make meanings in communication
“Even in silence and blankness, there is meaning. This conference is relevant to scholars of communication and stylistics,” she said.
The Special Guest Speaker, George Izunwa, described silence as a meditative tool that could trigger deeper concentration and communication with God.
“Even in prayers, we gain more from listening to God than talking. The truth is that silence before God can produce direction,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that the conference drew the attention of scholars in linguistics, communication, stylistics, diplomacy among others.
