Professor Obasi Igwe
Professor Obasi Igwe during an interview
Occupation	Political Scientist
Academic background
Education	University of Nigeria (Ph.D., Political Science) Ahmadu Bello University (M.Sc., Political Science) University of Nigeria (B.Sc., Political Science)
Alma mater	University of Nigeria
Academic work
Notable works	Politics and Globe Dictionary

Obasi Igwe (born 29 May 1948) is a Nigerian Professor of political science.^[1] His book, Politics and Globe Dictionary, which included his theory of Integration, has been cited more than 300 times in articles by other scholars.^[2] Obasi Igwe was several times the Head of Department of Political Science of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.^[1][3][4] A consistent advocate of greater Igbo inclusion in the Nigeria polity,^[5][6][7] Obasi Igwe was Chairman of the National Organizing Committee of the apex pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Igbo Day, 2023.^[8] He is a political activist and human rights crusader.^[9][10][11]

Obasi Igwe supervised and produced many Ph.D.s, including the first female Ph.D. in Political Science of the University of Nigeria, Edith Ihuoma Herberts.^[1] He was also former associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,^[1] national coordinator of the Igbo Civil Society Coalition,^[12][13] and presently adjunct professor of some state universities in Nigeria.^[1]

Early life and education

Obasi Igwe was born on 29 May 1948 at Etitiama village, in Nkporo town, Ohafia Local Government Area in Abia State, Nigeria. He gained admission into the University of Nigeria in 1970.^[14][15] Obasi Igwe graduated in 1973 with First Class Honours bachelor's degree in Sociology/Anthropology.^[1] That same year, he was employed as a Junior Fellow in the Department of Sociology/Anthropology, University of Nigeria. Obasi Igwe attended the Ahmadu Bello University for his master's degree in political science from 1975 to 1977.^[1][14]

Career

Between 1976 and 1977, he was a lecturer in political science at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.^[16] From 1977 to 1980, he was an assistant lecturer in political science at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. In 1980, he moved to the University of Nigeria's Political Science Department as Lecturer II. Obasi Igwe advanced through the ranks, becoming a professor of Political Science (Strategic Studies) in 1993.^{[1][17][18][19]}

From 1994 to 1995, he served as the acting Head of the Department of Political Science. From 2006 to 2007 and again from 2010 to 2012, he was Head of the political science department at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. From 2006 to 2008, he served as Associate Dean of the University of Nigeria's Faculty of Social Sciences. Since 2004, Obasi Igwe has served as an adjunct professor of political science at Abia State University and Anambra State University of Science and Technology. He has supervised and produced many Ph.D.s.,^[20] including the first female Ph.D. in Political Science of the University of Nigeria. Edith Ihuoma Herberts.^[1]

Political activism

As a political activist and human rights crusader,^[21][22][23] Obasi Igwe advocates for more inclusion of the Igbo ethnic group in the Nigeria polity.^[24][25][26] He was the Chairman of the National Organizing Committee of the apex pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Igbo Day, 2023. He is also the national Coordinator of the Igbo Civil Society Coalition.^{[1][27][28][29]}

Theory of integration

Obasi Igwe's book, Politics and Globe Dictionary, which included his theory of integration, has been cited more than 300 times in articles by other scholars.^[1] The theory asserts that the act and result of deliberate collaboration or total unity between political units or entities, which is meant to continuously maximize the potentials of the actors within states or groups of larger political integrity, stems from the ideas of objective interdependence, shared objectives, and mutual interests.^[30]

One of Obasi Igwe's beliefs, as contained in his résumé, is that "for the African and black race to be equal participants in the evolution of global progress and civilization, everyone, of whatever circumstance, has a potential that can contribute to that worthy objective".^[15]

Select publications

• Igwe, Obasi (1989). Nigeria: The New Socialist Manifesto, with Some Lessons for Other African and Third World Countries. Surulere, Lagos: Emancipation Press and Publishers (Nigeria).^[31]
• Igwe, Obasi (2005). Politics and Globe Dictionary. Aba: Eagle Publishers.^[32]
• Igwe, Obasi (1989). A Modern Introduction to Strategic Studies.^[33]
• Igwe, Obasi (2007). Nkporo: The History of an Igbo City-State from Antiquity to the Present (2007).^[34][35]

References