Monday October 5, 2026
By thenewsdesk.ng
Professor Philip Afaha has been appointed the Vice Chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University of Education, Afaha Nsit, by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno.
The appointment was announced on Sunday, October 5, 2026, at the Uyo Township Stadium during the celebration of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day in Akwa Ibom State.
Professor Afaha, a distinguished historian, academic and university administrator, brings to the new position extensive experience in teaching, research, public administration, leadership and institutional development.
Born on December 8, 1972, in Akai Ubium, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Afaha began his education at the Lutheran Primary School before proceeding to the Salvation Army Secondary School, Akai Ubium, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate and Senior Secondary School Certificate in 1983 and 1989 respectively.
He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Uyo in 1995, a Master of Arts degree in History and International Studies from the same university in 2004, and a PhD in History, with specialisation in Intergroup Relations, from the University of Abuja in 2011.
Before joining the academic profession, Professor Afaha worked as a Branch Supervisor with UACN-Textiles Division, Uyo, between 1997 and 2000. He subsequently served as an intern with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Abuja, in 2004, and between 2005 and 2007 served as Legislative Aide and Personal Assistant to Senator Uche Chukwumerije at the National Assembly.
He joined the University of Abuja in January 2013 as a Lecturer I and rose rapidly through the academic ranks, attaining the position of Professor of History and Intergroup Relations in October 2021.
Professor Afaha has participated prominently in national and international academic engagements. He has chaired and convened academic panels at major international conferences, including engagements at the Université de Lisboa, Portugal, in 2014 and the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, in 2018. He is a Senior Research Fellow of the Institute for French Research in Africa (IFRA) and has authored more than 50 publications in academic journals and books within and outside Nigeria.
His research interests include intergroup relations, diplomacy, leadership and public governance. He has also served as an external examiner for institutions including the University of Ibadan and Veritas University, Abuja.
His contribution to the restoration of History to the basic school curriculum in Nigeria has also been significant. In 2018 and 2019, he emerged as Nelson Mandela Lecturer in Nigeria and was among the historians involved in the process that led to the return of History to the Nigerian basic school curriculum. He was subsequently engaged by the Federal Government in the development of the current national curriculum for the teaching of History. In 2020, Spectrum Publishers also engaged him, alongside other experts, in the authorship of curriculum-based History textbooks for Nigerian schools.
On the international stage, Professor Afaha has maintained engagements with the diplomatic community and participated in international electoral observation. In 2021, he served as an International Observer during the general elections in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and was selected to speak on behalf of the African monitoring team.
His contributions to scholarship and public service have earned him several honours, including the NYSC Meritorious Service Award in 1996, the Historical Society of Nigeria Presidential Award in 2016, the Nelson Mandela Day Prize in 2018 and 2019, the Award of Honour from the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in 2022, and the Award of Honour from the Embassy of Argentina in 2023.
Professor Afaha has equally demonstrated a strong commitment to community and educational development. He established the Prof. Philip Afaha Prize in History at the University of Uyo in November 2023 and the Professor Philip Afaha Prize in History and International Studies at Edo State University, Iyamho, in 2026.
His university administrative career includes service as Abuja Liaison Officer of the Historical Society of Nigeria in 2017; Head of the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies from 2017 to 2021; Convener of the Democracy Lectures Series in 2018; Deputy Director of UniAbuja Consult in 2018; Editor of the Abuja Journal of Humanities in 2019; Director of the Institute of Legislative Studies in 2020; Director of the Abuja Leadership Centre in 2022; and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, in 2023. He also served on the 9th and 10th Governing Councils of the University of Abuja between 2023 and 2025.
As Director of the Abuja Leadership Centre, a TETFund Centre of Excellence in Public Governance and Leadership, Professor Afaha initiated Master’s and Doctoral degree programmes in 2022 and subsequently developed the Youth Leaders Clinic for secondary-school prefects and club captains, which has been introduced in several states across the country.
At the conclusion of his tenure as Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, he was appointed Special Adviser on Policy and Strategy to the Governor of Edo State on May 6, 2025. On May 7, 2026, he was appointed Adjunct Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
With his appointment as Vice Chancellor, Professor Afaha assumes leadership of the Akwa Ibom State University of Education at a significant stage in the development of teacher education and higher education in the state. His career spanning scholarship, university administration, public governance, curriculum development and international engagements now comes to bear in his new responsibility.
Professor Afaha is a devout Christian and a life member of the Bible Society of Nigeria.