The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has expressed deep shock and sadness on the sudden demise of world-acclaimed international scholar of Nigerian origin, foremost professor of political science and founder of Urhobo Historical Society (UHS), Professor Peter Ekeh.
The distinguished international scholar, professor Peter Ekeh whose ground-breaking academic work “Colonialism and the Two Publics in Africa: A Theoretical Statement” first published in 1975, regarded as one of the most cited works in the field of African, political and sociological studies in various universities across the entire globe, passed on Tuesday at the age of 83 in the United States.
The eminent professor of African American Studies, and venerable elder-statesman, Ekeh who was born on August 8, 1937, in present day Delta state, hailed from Okpara Inland of Agbon Kingdom, in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State. He also had very strong roots in Orogun, Ughelli North, Delta state as one of his parents originally hailed from Orogun.
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Senator Omo-Agege who also chairs the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution commiserated with the people of Okpara Inland of Agbon Kingdom in particular as well as Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, the Delta state government, and the global academic community over the sad incident.
The late eminent scholar and venerable teacher, Ekeh distinguished himself as a professor and head of political science department at the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan , and later at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, before joining the State University of New York, Buffalo, as head of African-American Studies.
Senator Omo-Agege who represents Delta Central at the Upper legislative chambers described “Professor Ekeh as a shinning light of the Urhobos and a national and international scholar who made immense contributions to the development of education in Nigeria as a lecturer at University of Ibadan and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.”
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According to him, the celebrated scholar would also be remembered for pioneering books detailing Urhobo history and other rich research works in Africa.
Omo-Agege said: “I received with rude shock, the unfortunate news of the demise of elder statesman, Professor Peter Ekeh and my condolences go to the family, the people of Ethiope East, the Urhobos in general, Delta State Government and the academic community.
“Without question, he distinguished himself in his services to the nation as a scholar in top notch higher institutions before joining the State University of New York, Buffalo, as head of African-American Studies.
“As an Urhobo patriot and historian par excellence, he published many works on Urhobo history and he is also the brain behind Urhobowadoo.org – an internet warehouse for Urhobo history and other key issues.
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“He will be greatly missed not only by the Urhobos but also by scholars within and outside the country.”
He added: “While praying to the Almighty God to grant his soul eternal rest, the Deputy President of the Senate called on Nigerians to remember his family in their prayers at these trying moments.”
Recall that as earlier reported by The New Diplomat the highly revered Ekeh had taught in several African, American and Japanese universities and was until his death, considered as an Iroko tree in the fields of political science and sociology, respectively.
Since the news of the demise of this great intellectual giant broke, the academic community, stakeholders, family members, past students and all those who came in contact with the legendary Ekeh have been thrown into state of mourning.
The late renowned scholar, who was founder of Nigerian Scholars for Dialogue, and the Urhobo Historical Society (UHS) was a professor of African-American Studies for several years at the prestigious State University of New York, at Buffalo, up state New York.
Late Professor Ekeh was married with five children. His senior son, Professor Akpofure Ekeh, a United States based Surgeon holds a PhD in Medicine and is a professor of note in his field of medicine at Wright University.
Prior to his proceeding to the University of Buffalo’s African- American Studies as a Professor in 1989, Ekeh was already a very distinguished scholar at key universities across the world.
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He was chair of the department of African-American studies at Buffalo university from 1993 to 2001. In his long and very excellent academic career cutting across universities in various continents, Professor Ekeh taught at the following universities, among others: University of California, Riverside (1970-73); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in Nigeria (1973-74); and at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria (1974-1989).
The late distinguished professor of political science was also the Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ibadan (1978-1983) and Chairman of the Ibadan University Press (1983-1988).
Ekeh earned his undergraduate degree at the famous University of Ibadan (1961-64) and his graduate degrees in sociology from the elite, Ivory league institutions , Stanford University (1965-66)and the University of California, Berkeley (1966-70), respectively.
The Nigerian born illustrious Ekeh, started his early grand research studies in sociological theory, in which he published Social Exchange Theory: The Two Traditions (1974), and psychoanalytic theory.
As an outstanding scholar, his books were not only well regarded but they also became compelling read among scholars, students, teachers, policy makers, among others.
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The prolific scholar later developed special interests in African politics and history, in which he further established himself with his landmark theory and historic research on the Two Publics.
His ground-breaking research earned him world-wide applause and esteemed reputation as a global scholar of influence and fame.
Until his death, Prof Ekeh was greatly lionized, feted and honoured on account of his grand-research on the Colonialism and the Two Publics in Africa: A Theoretical Statement.
The late erudite professor’s work cut across diverse disciplines and have been particularly influential in African studies. Late Ekeh also held several fellowships roles admirably in Europe, United States, and Japan.
He led and piloted several research projects across the world in the field of political science and sociology. He was a Rockefeller Foundation Scholar for his graduate studies.
With funding and grants from Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the United States Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C., late Ekeh led and supervised several academic projects.
Later in his career, late Ekeh founded the Urhobo Historical Society (UHS)whose influential web site URHOBO WAADO he edited for several years.
He also founded the Nigerian Scholars for Dialogue. He was also most active in the campaign for the protection of the Niger delta environment.
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