About the Department of Philosophy, AKSU

The Department of  Philosophy, Akwa Ibom State University, was established in 2012 as one of the full-fledged units of academic philosophical studies in Nigeria. Complete undergraduate programme operations commenced in the 2012/2013 academic session, under the Acting Headship of Late Dr. Joseph Alphonsus Okon, and an initial enrollment of twenty-nine undergraduate students. Apart from the vibrant Late Dr. Okon who was himself a pioneer lecturer of the Department, other dynamic pioneer lecturers of the Department included Dr. Iniobong Daniel Umotong, Dr. Christopher Etokudoh, Dr. Moses Augustus Udoh, and Dr. Inameti Lawrence Udo. Today, with full accreditation of her undergraduate programmes from National Universities Commission (NUC), the Department has churned out successive sets of graduates with Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) Degrees, and has over two hundred undergraduate students at different levels of studies. Also, additional competent lecturers were employed, which include, Dr. Precious Uwazuoke Obioha, Dr. Christopher Alexander Udofia, and Dr. Otto Dennis.

Since inception, the Department’s curriculum was designed to expose students to a wide range of core philosophy courses covering different strands of thought in African, Asian, and Western traditions. Together with other minor but relevant courses, they prepare graduates for challenges of individual and societal development as well as nation building. On these notes, the undergraduate programme is studied for either four-years or three years, depending on mode of admission which is either through Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or Direct Entry, respectively. Both modes of study lead to the award of the B.A. (Hons.) Degree.

Furthermore, the Department has been authorized by the NUC to offer postgraduate programmes, which lead to award of both Master of Arts (M.A.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Degrees. With the authorization and commencement of operations in 2019/2020 academic session, the Department has successfully trained and is still training postgraduates at the different levels.

The Philosophy of the Undergraduate Programmes

The broad philosophy of the undergraduate programme is to produce graduates who are well-trained in every aspect of Philosophy as a field of academic study and profession. However, a core obligation of the programme is to churn out philosophy graduates that are conversant with core areas of Philosophy.

The Philosophy of the Postgraduate Programmes

The postgraduate programme in is designed to deepen students’ knowledge of Philosophy and develop their critical, independent and creative approaches to reality.

The Vision of the Department

To keep aflame pursuit of knowledge, excellence, and spirit of enquiry, nurtured by adequately qualified and well-motivated teachers who, themselves, engage in high quality research for self-development, training of students, and increased visibility of the University.

The Mission of the Department

To produce well-trained graduates and researchers in Philosophy for active participation in educational sector and socio-economic development of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, and the world.

HEADS OF THE DEPARTMENT AT A GLANCE

 Current Head of the Department   

A  WORD  from  THE  HOD

This is welcoming all members of staff, students, and other stakeholders of the Department of Philosophy, Akwa Ibom State University. As one of the units studying professional philosophy in Nigeria and the world at large, ours does so with a focus on pragmatically impacting on students, graduates, and society in positive ways. These include teaching with approaches that are guided by global best practices and conducts, training competent completers of all our programmes who graduate to contribute positively to society, engaging in staff development programmes that continually expose our academics to global and local competitive researches, and contributing invaluably to general knowledge pool of the academia. Since inception of the Department and her first Headship in 2012, these have been and remain our vision and mission across tenures of Headship. I invite you to join us and contribute to their continual accomplishment.

Dr. Precious U. Obioha, B.A., M.A., Ph. D    
Past Heads of the Department

Late Dr. Joseph A. Okon   

2012-2013

Dr. Iniobong D. Umotong

2013-2016

Dr. Emmanuel J. Udokang

 2016-2019

Dr. Iniobong D. Umotong

2019-2021

Organizational Structure

CURRENT ACADEMIC STAFF

Dr. Iniobong Umotong is Associate Professor of Philosophy who currently pilots affairs of the Faculty of Arts as the Dean. Apart from the Deanship position, he had also been Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies for the Faculty, and Head of the Department of Philosophy for two separate tenures. Dr. Umotong, who is currently the most senior member of staff of the Department, majors in the philosophical areas of Epistemology, Metaphysics, and African Philosophy. As a diligent and prolific Google Scholar, one of his major works is “Humanism and Terrorism: An Epistemic Overview,” published in The International Journal of Humanities and Social Studies (May, 2021). Another is “Death: A Phenomenon to be Appreciated,” published in Sophia: An African Journal of Philosophy (Sept., 2004). Dr. Umotong is a member of the International Society for African Philosophy and Studies (ISAPS), and Political Philosophers Association of Nigeria (PPAN). He can be reached at his office in the Faculty of Arts Block, on his phone: +2348023291397, and via his email: iniobongumotong@aksu.edu.ng.                                                

                                                            

Iniobong Daniel Umotong

          B.A (Phil), M.A (Phil), M.Sc (Int. Rel.),PGDM (Mgt.), Ph.D (Phil

Precious Uwaezuoke Obioha

B.A (Phil), M.A (Phil), Ph.D (Phil

Dr. Precious Obioha is a Senior Lecturer and Google Scholar who currently heads the Department of Philosophy. Apart from the Headship position, he also served as the immediate past coordinator of the Department’s postgraduate programmes, and computation officer-in-charge of students’ examination results. Dr. Obioha specializes in African Philosophy, Africana Studies, and Socio-Political Philosophy. His works dot both international and local learned journals, with one of the major ones being “Afro-communal Ethic for Good Governance,” published in Acta Universitatis Danubius, (2021). Another article of his is “Globalization and the Future of African Culture,” published in Philosophical Papers and Review (2010). Dr. Obioha is a member of  International Society for African Philosophy and Studies (ISAPS), and Political Philosophers Association of Nigeria (PPAN). He can be reached at his office in the Faculty of Arts Block, on his phone: +2348033950443, and via his email: preciousobioha@aksu.edu.ng.                                                

Dr. Christopher Udofia is a Senior Lecturer who specializes in Logic, Philosophy of Mathematics, and Philosophy of Science. Being a Google Scholar, he has published in a plethora of international and local learned journals. One of his major works is “Leadership and National Development,” published in International Journal of Research and Innovation in Science (2020), and another is “Leadership Cynosurism and Kant’s Imperative,” published in International Journal of Politics and Good Governance, (2019). Dr. Udofia is the Department’s current computation officer-in-charge of students’ examination results as well as academic advisor of 100Level students. He is a member of the Association of Professional Philosophers of Nigeria (APPN), and Global Academic Researchers Association (GARA). To reach him, one is to either visit his office at Faculty of Arts Block, or call him on phone +2347032246666, or email him via: christopherudofia@aksu.edu.ng.                     

Christopher Alexander Udofia

        B.A (Phil), M.A (Phil), Ph.D (Phil

Moses Augustus Udoh

B.A (Phil), M.Sc (Soc), PGD (Thl), Ph.D (Phil

Dr. Moses Udoh is the current Coordinator of the general study courses domiciled in the Department. He also doubles as the Academic Advisor of 300Level students of the Department. The erudite lecturer specializes in African Philosophy, History of Philosophy, and Environmental and Cultural Philosophy. Having published widely in both international and local learned journals and books, one of his major works is “Environmental Sustainability and Renewability,” published in Elements of History and Philosophy of Science. North Carolina: Lulu Press (2013). Another one is “Challenges and Prospects of Developing Scientific and technological Enterprise in Africa,” published in Journal of Complementary Reflection: Studies in Azouzu (Oct., 2013). Dr. Udoh is a member of the Philosophers Association of Nigeria (PAN), and Nigerian Industrial Relations Association (NIRA). Reaching him can be at his office in Faculty of Arts Block, on his phone +2347068498740, or via his email

Dr. Otto Dennis is a Google Scholar with ORCID ID 0000-0003-1706-2518 who specializes in Ethics, Ontology, and Phenomenology and Existentialism. With a plethora of publications in both international and local learned journals and books, one of his major works is “Obligation to Posterity and African Environmental Intuitionism,” published in African Philosophy in an Intercultural Perspective, Springer (2022). Another, co-authored with Dr. Inameti L. Udo, is “Suicide: A Betrayal of African Communalist Personhood,” published in Meta: Research in Hermeneutics, Phenomenology, and Practical Philosophy, Iasi: Alexander Ioan Cuza University Press (2021). Dr. Dennis currently manages welfare programmes of the teaching staff of the Department, coordinates lectures and examinations timetables for the Department and Faculty of Arts, and counsels the Department’s students’ association. He is also the assistant computation officer-in-charge of the Department’s students’ examination results as well as Academic Advisor of 400Level students of the Department. Prior to Dr. Udo, he was the coordinator of the general study courses domiciled in the Department. Dr. Dennis is a member of the Philosophers Association of Nigeria (PAN), and Political Philosophers Association of Nigeria (PPAN). He can be reached at his office in Faculty of Arts Block, on his phone +2348023082770, and via his email ottodennis@aksu.edu.ng.                                                

 Otto Dennis

         B.A (Phil), M.A (Phil), Ph.D (Phil)

Inameti Lawrence Udo

B.A (Phil), B.Phil., PGDE, M.A (Phil), Ph.D

Dr. Inameti Udo is a specialist in Metaphysics, Socio-Political Philosophy, and African Philosophy who has published widely in both international and local learned journals. One of his major works is “A. J. Ayer’s Anti-metaphysical Stance in the Face of Asouzu’s Complementary Ontology,” published in Journal of Complementary Reflection: Studies in Azouzu, (Oct., 2013). Another one, co-authored with Dr. Otto Dennis, is “Suicide: A Betrayal of African Communalist Personhood,” published in Meta: Research in Hermeneutics, Phenomenology, and Practical Philosophy, Iasi: Alexander Ioan Cuza University Press (2021). Immediately before Dr. Udoh, Dr. Udo was the coordinator of the general study courses domiciled in the Department. He also served as the Department’s computation officer-in-charge of students’ examination results, immediately before Dr. Obioha. All the while he combined the responsibilities with Academic Advisor of 200Level students of the Department, which he still oversees presently. Dr. Udo is a member of the Association of Philosophy Professionals of Nigeria (APPON), and Political Philosophers Association of Nigeria (PPAN). He can be reached at his office in Faculty of Arts Block, on his phone +2348069007369, and via his email  inametiudo@aksu.edu.ng.