Miriam Ikejiani-Clark
Miriam Odinchezo Iruaku Ikejiani-Clark | |
|---|---|
| Born | Miriam Odinchezo Iruaku Ikejiani 8 July 1949 University College Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria |
| Died | 22 September 2011 (aged 62) National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria |
| Occupations | Academic, politician |
| Employer(s) | University of Nigeria, Nsukka |
| Known for | First female professor of political science at the University of Nigeria; Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory |
| Spouse | Chuba Okadigbo (divorced) |
| Children | 4 |
| Academic background | |
| Education | Eastern Mennonite University (BA) Howard University (MA) Catholic University of America (postgraduate studies) |
| Alma mater | Eastern Mennonite University Howard University Catholic University of America |
| Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory | |
| In office March 1995 – November 1997 | |
Miriam Odinchezo Iruaku Ikejiani-Clark (8 July 1949 – 22 September 2011) was a Nigerian professor of political science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who also served as minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory.
Early life and education
[edit]She was born at University College Ibadan on 8 July 1949 to Okechukwu Ikejiani and Miriam Margery Carter Ikejiani.[1] She earned a B.A. in political history from Eastern Mennonite University in 1969, and then received her M.A. degree in political science from Howard University in 1971.[2] She undertook postgraduate studies in politics at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC, on a graduate fellowship.[1]
Career
[edit]Ikejiani-Clark was the first woman professor of political science at the University of Nigeria.[3] From 1997 to 1999, she served as the head of the department of political science.[4] She also served as dean from 2007 to 2009.[1][5] From 2002 to 2004, she was the editor of the Nigerian Journal of Social Sciences.[1]
In 2019, a memorial lecture in Ikejiani-Clark's honour was established at the University of Nigeria, and Governor Samuel Ortom gave the inaugural lecture.[6][5]
Political career
[edit]From 1992 to 1993, Ikejiani-Clark served as the Chairman Social Democratic Party (SDP) Anambra State and led the state's delegation to the National SDP Convention in Jos in 1994. She also served as a member of the National Constitutional Conference Commission. From March 1995 to November 1997,[5] Ikejiani-Clark served as minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory, the first woman to serve in this position.[7] She focused on improving conditions for the poor.[8] In 2008, President Umaru Musa Yar'dua appointed her to the Presidential Committee on Honours and Awards.[9] In 2009, she spoke on Nigeria's Electoral Act, which she felt allowed politicians to manipulate the period they spent in office.[3]
Selected publications
[edit]- Ikejiani, Okechukwu; Ikejiani-Clark, Miriam (1986). Nigeria, political imperative: desiderata for nationhood and stability. Enugu, Nigeria: Fourth Dimension Publishers. ISBN 978-978-156-231-0. OCLC 15631095.
- Olisa, Michael S. O; Ikejiani-Clark, Miriam (1989). Azikiwe and the African revolution. Onitsha, Nigeria: Africana-FEP Publishers. ISBN 978-978-175-223-0. OCLC 22140460.
- Ikejiani-Clark, Miriam; Okoli, F. C (1995). Local government administration in Nigeria: current problems and future challenges. Lagos: Mangrove Publications. ISBN 9789782953001. OCLC 743259916.
- Ikejiani-Clark, Miriam (2009). Peace studies and conflict resolution in Nigeria: a reader. Ibadan: Spectrum Books. ISBN 978-978-095-018-7. OCLC 670237028.
Personal life
[edit]Ikejiani-Clark died at the National Hospital, Abuja, on 22 September 2011.[10] She was married to Chuba Okadigbo and they had four children before divorcing.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Edet, Hope (2017-03-08). "IKEJIANI-CLARK, Prof. Mariam Idinchezo". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
- ^ "Howard University Commencement Program". 1971. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "Nass Deliberately Created Loopholes in Electoral Act - Clark". allAfrica.com. October 27, 2009.
- ^ "Department of Political Science". University of Nigeria. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ a b c Ihuoma, Chidinma (2019-04-29). "Benue gov. to deliver UNN's first Prof Ikejiani-Clark Memorial Lecture". The Nigerian Xpress. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ "Prof. Miriam Ikejiani-Clark Memorial Lecture". University Of Nigeria Nsukka. 2019-04-29. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
- ^ Chuku, Gloria (2009). "Igbo Women and Political Participation in Nigeria, 1800s-2005". The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 42 (1): 81–103. ISSN 0361-7882. JSTOR 40282431.
- ^ "Atiku, Eze Ndigbo, Others Mourn Prof. Ikejiani Clark". Africa News Service. 26 September 2011.
- ^ Idachaba, Sunny (2025-04-18). "The Unforgotten Hero, Mariam Ikejiani Clarke". Blueprint. Abuja, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
- ^ "UNN, Zik's wife, Atiku mourn Ikejiani-Clark". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. 2011-09-24. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
- ^ Soyooye, Adesina (2021-05-24). "Again, Tragedy Hits The Chuba Okadigbo Family". The Source. Retrieved 2022-02-03.
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