FACULTY OF HUMANITIES
From the Dean’s Desk
The Faculty of Humanities is one of the foundation faculties. It metamorphosed from the School of Arts to the School of Languages and Arts to its present status.
The Faculty believes in “Excellence, Integrity and Service” reflecting the motto of the University. It has made enormous contributions as far as the growth of the University is concerned. It has produced many students who have made giant strides in academia and other human endeavours.
The Faculty has also excelled in the area of research. It floated the ICHEKE Journal which existed as JEFFLIN and OWU when the faculty existed as the School of Languages and School of Arts respectively since 1993 and has been sustained till date. The Faculty has added two new journals; South-South Journal of Humanities and International Studies and Niger Delta Journal of Gender Peace and Conflict Studies, and the Departmental journal titled the Port Harcourt Journal of History and Diplomatic Studies.
Furthermore, it has organised several academic fora such as the conference which took place on Monday, 17th June, 2013 Inter-alia. In the area of workshops, the Faculty organised workshops in result computation and curriculum vitae writing in 2012. It also successfully organised its second International Conference with the theme: The Humanities and National Development in the New Normal, in November, 2021.
Students of the Faculty have also made enviable progress in national competitions in June, 2012 and recently, the All South-South Debate at the University of Calabar where the students of the Department of English won the runners-up award. The Faculty has also produced three overall best graduating students in the Departments of English and Communication Art, French and International Studies, and Music.
Currently, the Faculty has five departments. They are the Departments of English and Communication Art, Fine and Applied Arts, French and International Studies, History and Diplomatic Studies, Music, Religious and Cultural Studies and Theatre and Film Studies. Also, there are plans to introduce departments like Linguistics and Nigerian Languages and Mass Communication. The Faculty currently has the following number of Professors;
English and Communication Art———– 4
French and International Studies———-2
History and Diplomatic Studies————-3
Religious and Cultural Studies————–1
Theatre and Film Studies——————–1
Philosophy
In line with the University’s motto (Excellence Integrity and Service), the philosophy of the Faculty is thus anchored on the desire to build a Faculty that shall be the flagship for the training of teachers at the University level for Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general. The Professional instructional activities at the Faculty shall be anchored on the pursuit of excellence in the academic programmes offered in the Faculty.
Thus, the philosophy is anchored on the design and implementation of research programmes that shall enhance, upgrade, and add value to education and the teaching profession. Given that the needs of society are multifaceted, the philosophy of the Faculty is also to provide teaching and research in selected disciplines such as English Studies, French and other foreign languages, History and Diplomatic Studies, Music, Religious and Cultural Studies, etc. that shall make the Faculty contribute most meaningfully to the holistic growth and development of Rivers State.
This is hinged on the universal principles of justice, equity, fairness and freedom that knowledge and education provide for mankind. The main ethos of the Faculty, therefore, is the search for knowledge and its impartation through teaching, research and community service, thereby creating a Faculty that is not just merely well recognized for its academic achievements but is also a partner with the Government and the private sector to enhance the rapid socio-economic transformation of the society.
Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako
Brief Biography for Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako
Ibiere Ken-Maduako was born into the Bell-Gam’s family, Cookey’s Compound in the Opobo Kingdom of Rivers State Nigeria. Her University Education was at the University of Port Harcourt, where she obtained a B.A (ED)) degree in English Language and an M.A. degree in Linguistics. She attended the University of Ibadan for an M.A in English and a PhD in Linguistics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). She is also undergoing a post doctoral degree in Communication at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.
Ibiere Ken-Maduako is a professor of Pragmatics in Communication at the Department of English and Communication Art, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni Port Harcourt. She is the immediate past National President of the English Language Teachers Association of Nigeria (ELTAN) and the current National Vice President of the Literacy Promotion Association of Nigeria (LIPAN) formerly known as the Reading Association of Nigeria (RAN). She is also the immediate past Chairman of the Rivers State branch of LiPAN and during her tenure, some community reading centres were set up around the state. She is also a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). She belongs to diverse professional bodies such as the Linguistic Association of Nigeria ( LAN), English Scholars Association of Nigeria (ESAN), where she serves as the South South Regional Coordinator. She is a member of the Pragmatics Association of Nigeria (PrAN) and so many other Academic bodies. She is the coordinator of the Debating Council, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and the team is a two-time overall winner of the South-South Regional Championship Debate organised by the National Orientation Agency.
Furthermore, she is a poet, writer, professional teacher, teacher educator, professional phonics trainer, an ardent literacy practitioner and a mentor to younger professional colleagues. She has over one hundred and ten academic publications, quite a number of short stories (published and yet to be published), three collections of poems and some children’s stories.
She was the pioneer Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. She was also former Head of the Department of Nigerian Languages, Head, Department of English and Communication Art and currently, she is the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education.
Ibiere Ken-Maduako is a passionate learner, eager to learn new things at every single opportunity that presents itself. She loves GOD and the people of GOD. She also loves reading, writing, seeing people happy, skipping, singing and playing the keyboard. She is married to Mr. Kenneth Maduako and they have three blessed and lovely children: Deborah, EnochSimeon and Ruthie.
