E.U. Essien-Udom
Encyclopedia
Professor Essien Udosen Essien-Udom was born in Ikot Osong, Eastern Provinces, Nigeria
(now Akwa Ibom
State), on 25 October 1928, the first son of Timothy and Adiaha Essien. He was educated in the local primary school and Holy Family College, Abak, Eastern Nigeria; Oberlin College
, Oberlin, Ohio
(1951–55); and the University of Chicago
(1955–61).
He was a primary school teacher (1949) and later interpreter for the Eastern Provinces of Nigeria (1949–51) before receiving a Fulbright Travel Grant for undergraduate study in the United States
. On completion of his studies in political science and international relations, he taught and held administrative offices in various universities: teaching assistant and research associate, Harvard University
, Cambridge, Massachusetts
(1960–62); visiting lecturer, University of Vermont
, Burlington, Vermont
(summer 1962); assistant professor, Brown University
, Providence, Rhode Island, (fall 1962); lecturer/senior lecturer, University of Ibadan
, where he became professor (1965–88), head of department (1965–72), and dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences (1966–68); Cadbury Visiting Professorial Fellow, University of Birmingham
Center for West African Studies, Birmingham, UK (1972–73); founding vice chancellor, University of Maiduguri
, Borno State
, Nigeria
(1975–79); visiting professor and head of department; dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Director of the Center for Development Studies; and member of the Governing Council, all of the University of Cross River State, Uyo
, Nigeria
(1984–86).
With a political perspective inspired by Garveyism
and Pan-Africanism
, Essien-Udom (dubbed the "black power professor" by University of Ibadan
students) was intensely public spirited and committed to institution building. He was involved in public service
outside the university: executive secretary (1957/58) and then president (1960/61), All African Students Union of the Americas; leader of a delegation to the Pan-African Student Conference in London
, 1960; non-resident tutor, Dunstan Hall, Harvard University; Master of Independence Hall, University of Ibadan (1967–72); University of Ibadan representative to the West African Examinations Council (1963–65) assistant and chief examiner in Government GCE examination (1966–69); and external examiner to universities in Nigeria
and Ghana
. He was Secretary to the Military government and Head of Service, South Eastern State, Nigeria (1973–75); member and chairman, National Universities Commission, Nigeria (1986–92).
He is the author of Black Nationalism: a Search for Identity in America and many journal articles and conference papers; co-editor with Amy Jacques Garvey
, More Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey
; general editor of the Frank Cass Africana Modern Library Series and the Ibadan University Press Political and Administrative Studies Series.
The University of Maiduguri awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters (D. Litt.) for his service in 1986.
He is survived by his wife, Ruby; his son Nkeruwem; his brother Ikpong; his sisters Arit, Enoh and Ester; and a host of nephews, nieces, and other relatives.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
(now Akwa Ibom
Akwa Ibom
Akwa Ibom is a state in Nigeria named after the Qua Iboe river. It is located in the coastal South-Southern part of the country, lying between latitudes 4°321 and 5°331 North, and longitudes 7°251 and 8°251 East...
State), on 25 October 1928, the first son of Timothy and Adiaha Essien. He was educated in the local primary school and Holy Family College, Abak, Eastern Nigeria; Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
, Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin, Ohio
Oberlin is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States, to the south and west of Cleveland. Oberlin is perhaps best known for being the home of Oberlin College, a liberal arts college and music conservatory with approximately 3,000 students...
(1951–55); and the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
(1955–61).
He was a primary school teacher (1949) and later interpreter for the Eastern Provinces of Nigeria (1949–51) before receiving a Fulbright Travel Grant for undergraduate study in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. On completion of his studies in political science and international relations, he taught and held administrative offices in various universities: teaching assistant and research associate, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
(1960–62); visiting lecturer, University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
, Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
(summer 1962); assistant professor, Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, Providence, Rhode Island, (fall 1962); lecturer/senior lecturer, University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
, where he became professor (1965–88), head of department (1965–72), and dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences (1966–68); Cadbury Visiting Professorial Fellow, University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
Center for West African Studies, Birmingham, UK (1972–73); founding vice chancellor, University of Maiduguri
University of Maiduguri
The University of Maiduguri is located in Maiduguri, a city in Borno State in northeast Nigeria. The university was created by the federal government in 1975, with the intention of its becoming one of the country's principal higher-education institutions...
, Borno State
Borno State
Borno State is a state in north-eastern Nigeria. Its capital is Maiduguri. The state was formed in 1976 from the split of the North-Eastern State...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
(1975–79); visiting professor and head of department; dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Director of the Center for Development Studies; and member of the Governing Council, all of the University of Cross River State, Uyo
Uyo
Uyo is a city in south-eastern Nigeria and is the capital of Akwa Ibom State, a major oil producing state of Nigeria. The city became a capital of Akwa Ibom State on September 23, 1987 following the creation of the state from Cross River State....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
(1984–86).
With a political perspective inspired by Garveyism
Garveyism
Garveyism is an aspect of Black Nationalism which takes its source from the works, words and deeds of UNIA-ACL founder Marcus Garvey. The fundamental focus of Garveyism is the complete, total and never ending redemption of the continent of Africa by people of African ancestry, at home and abroad...
and Pan-Africanism
Pan-Africanism
Pan-Africanism is a movement that seeks to unify African people or people living in Africa, into a "one African community". Differing types of Pan-Africanism seek different levels of economic, racial, social, or political unity...
, Essien-Udom (dubbed the "black power professor" by University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
students) was intensely public spirited and committed to institution building. He was involved in public service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
outside the university: executive secretary (1957/58) and then president (1960/61), All African Students Union of the Americas; leader of a delegation to the Pan-African Student Conference in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 1960; non-resident tutor, Dunstan Hall, Harvard University; Master of Independence Hall, University of Ibadan (1967–72); University of Ibadan representative to the West African Examinations Council (1963–65) assistant and chief examiner in Government GCE examination (1966–69); and external examiner to universities in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. He was Secretary to the Military government and Head of Service, South Eastern State, Nigeria (1973–75); member and chairman, National Universities Commission, Nigeria (1986–92).
He is the author of Black Nationalism: a Search for Identity in America and many journal articles and conference papers; co-editor with Amy Jacques Garvey
Amy Jacques Garvey
Amy Euphemia Jacques Garvey was the second wife of Marcus Garvey, and a journalist and activist in her own right. She was born to George Samuel and Charlotte Henrietta Jacques, in Kingston, Jamaica....
, More Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey
Marcus Garvey
Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., ONH was a Jamaican publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a staunch proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, to which end he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League...
; general editor of the Frank Cass Africana Modern Library Series and the Ibadan University Press Political and Administrative Studies Series.
The University of Maiduguri awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters (D. Litt.) for his service in 1986.
He is survived by his wife, Ruby; his son Nkeruwem; his brother Ikpong; his sisters Arit, Enoh and Ester; and a host of nephews, nieces, and other relatives.