ACADEMIC PROFILE OF PROF. IKE ODIMEGWU (ASUU/UNIZIK CHAIRMAN)

Prof. Ike Odimegwu is a Nigerian philosopher with specialist interests
in social and political philosophy and African metaphysical
anthropology. Completing his MA studies from the University of Nigeria
in the 1990s, he lectured briefly at the...

Federal College of Education,
Umunze before joining Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka where he has
lectured since 1999. Ike has published over fifty works that span
various literary and academic genres. His mainline books include
Philosophic Foundations of Politics and Integrative Personhood
published in the Studies in African Philosophy Series of Lit-Verlag.
He has edited a number of books including Philosophy and Africa,
Nigerian Democracy and Global Democracy, and Perspectives on African
Communalism published by Trafford. As Head of the Department of
Philosophy in 2006, Ike initiated the celebration of the "UNESCO World
Philosophy Day @ UNIZIK" which has grown into an annual academic and
cultural festival for Nigerian philosophers and scholars generally,
and has generated the UNESCO World Philosophy Day @ UNIZIK publication
series. As variously observed by Barrister Gabriel Orji and Fr. Tony
Ufearoh among others, Ike's academic works grow out of his life
experiences. He has tried to retain philosophy on the life theatre
while maintaining the demands of philosophic dialogue. Such works as
My Memento, The Loneliness of Being, A Genius in the Hood, etc. in his
Thoughts & Feelings Series evolve philosophic discourses in the
unfolding drama of life-and-love narratives. The professional life of
Ike, like his social life,is characterized by cooperation and team
work. He has co-authored and co-edited quite a number of works with
friends and colleagues both in philosophy and in other disciplines. He
has also worked in many committees to organize conferences, workshops
and seminars. He has participated in over forty national and
international conferences, workshops, colloquiums and seminars.
Besides philosophy, Ike has also published a number of short stories,
poems and short plays including "Umenwa", "Dioha Dike", "Tell
Isimmiri", "Presences", "A Piece of Me", "On the Shore of the River",
etc. An avid music lover, he has composed over twenty musical pieces
that cut across folk, country, lullaby, classical, liturgical,
operetta, anthem, etc. He is a member of the Nigerian Philosophical
Association (NPA), member, International Society for African
Philosophy and Studies (ISAPS), Director of Projects, Nigeria Academic
Forum (NAF), Secretary, Society for the Development of African
Philosophy, Science and Technology (SODAPSAT), etc. He has been an
active promoter ofacademic excellence and a proactive member of the
academic community. He has successfully supervised over twenty
postgraduate students. He has served as Coordinator, Departmental
Postgraduate Programme, Chairman, Departmental Academic Programme
Review Committee, Chairman, Departmental Lecture Board, Chairman,
Faculty of Arts Welfare Committee, Secretary, Faculty of Arts
Accreditation Committee, Centennial Secretary, Rotary Club of Awka
GRA, Staff Adviser, National Association of Philosophy Students
(NAPS), etc. In the various events and journeys of life and
profession, Ike strives to be the best he can be by working for the
best of all. This disposition has attracted the recognition of anumber
of persons and organizations resulting in such awards as: the "Vice
Chancellor's Productivity/Merit Award", "Most Consistent Lecturer"
from the Nigerian Association of Philosophy Students NAPS, UNIZIK
Chapter, "Presidential Award of Excellence", Rotary Club of Awka GRA,
etc. Ike is currently a Visiting Senior Lecturer at the Department of
Classics and Philosophy of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana where
he lectures in Metaphysics, African Philosophy and Introduction to
Philosophy. More coming...