The Department of Philosophy/Religion and Cultural Studies is one of the new Departments created at the beginning of 2019/2020 Academic Session. Before now, it existed within the Triplet programs of History and Strategic Studies/Philosophy/Religion and Cultural Studies. All thanks to our dynamic Vice Chancellor, Prof ChinedumNwajiuba and his management crew. The Department is a twin Department representing the rational and moral human personality. Both Philosophy and Religion offer human oriented courses that aim at developing the whole human personality [rational and spiritual/moral].
In Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, the Department is poised to developing human dignity, integrity, excellence, dignity of labour and moral rectitude in our students, hence the department is student oriented. We have energetic, enthusiastic, motivated and learned teaching and non-teaching staff that make this singular dream of nursing a new humanity in our students a reality. In line with AE FUNAI aspiration to place the University in World class list, the Department of Philosophy/Religion and Cultural Studies.
In line with AE FUNAI aspiration to place the University in World class list, the Department of Philosophy/Religion and Cultural Studies have developed its Vision, Mission and Core Values as follows:
Vision
One day all of us from this Department will occupy a centre stage in all spheres of life and giving humanity a new meaning and direction
Mission Statement
To raise a new humanity through Integrity and Excellence
Core Values
- Integrity
- Excellence
- Dedication
- Empathy
- Research
Our slogan is ‘PhilRel : Giving Humanity a new meaning’
Our departmental Anthem is as follows:
Hail! Great Philosophy and Religion
- Hail! Great Philosophy and Religion,
The Mother of all disciplines
The Fountain of great knowledge
Based here in AE-FUNAI
Arise and take your place,Chorus
Arise! Arise!!
Arise and take your centre stage. - Hail! Great Philosophy and Religion,
To raise a new humanity
With integrity for excellence,
We herald your coming,
Arise and take your place
(Repeat chorus)
HOD’s Profile
Dr. Kingsley Okoro is senior lecturer and the head of the Department of Philosophy/ Religion and Cultural Studies, Alex Ekwueme University Ndufu-Alike. He joined the Faculty in November, 2017 from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, where he started his academic career in 2006. In Ebonyi State University, He rose to the headship of the Department of Philosophy and Religion. Kingsley holds a Bachelor of Arts [B.A] honours degree in Religious Studies, Master of Arts [MA] Religion and Society with interest in Religion and Politics and Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.] Degrees in Religion and Society with bias in Global Issues, all from University of Calabar. His research interest spans from Religion and Politics, Global Issues, African Studies, Igbo Metaphysis, Peace and Conflict Studies and World religions. Within the Thirteen [13] years of teaching and researching, Kingsley has graduated about five thousand [5000] students in undergraduate degree, Six [6] in Masters and Five [5] in Ph.D. degrees. Dr. Okoro is a CRS [Christian Religious Studies] chief examiner for Joint University preliminary examination board [Jupeb]
He has published a range of articles in both International and national Journal in these areas of Interest. He has attended and presented papers in several International and National Conferences and has also edited peer reviewed journals of high ranking. Kingsley is a researcher and the head of, “Ebony Scientific Group”, that is currently engaged in a new area of research that focused on the examination of the historical relationship between Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria and their boundary neighbours of AkwaIbom, Cross River, Benue, Delta and Kogi States of Nigeria. Kingsley collaborates with Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies [ A Global Research Organization based in New York] in researching on Human dignity and Violation in global world. He also collaborates with Michelle Brenner and her team [ Holistic Practice Beyond Borders based in Sydney]. This group is working on Human Compassion and has produced two epic works on human dignity. These are:
- Conscious Connectivity: Creating Dignity in Conversation published in 2011 by Holistic Practice Beyond Borders in Charleston, USA
- Conversation on Compassion published in 2015 by Holistic Practice Beyond Border, Lexington, USA.
Dr Kingsley Okoro contributed a chapter each in the two books.
Dr. Okoro is a member of several international organizations including the International Peace Research Association [IPRA], International Peace Movement, Human DHS, Greater New York Peace Association [GNYPA] International Association of African Scholars [AAS], Association for the Study of Religions in African [ASRA], Igbo Studies Association [ISA], African Studies Association [ASA], National Association for the Study of Religions [NASR] Kingsley is the founder of “He Cares Project Nigeria”, which provides educational support for rural people in Eastern Nigeria. He is a priest of Church of Nigeria [Anglican Communion] and Currently, the administrator of All Saint’s Cathedral Abakaliki-Ebonyi State. Kingsley sits at Global advisory board of the contact project international, with head office at Washington DC. He enjoys nature watch, travelling, cooking and swimming.
Core Activities:
- Teaching/mentoring
- Learning
- Research
Research Teams:
- Excel Research Group: Coordinator: Dr Kingsley Okoro
- Insight Research Group: Coordinator: Dr Charles NkemOkolie
