By Cecilia Ologunagba

New York, April 17, 2023

Apollos Nwauwa, a U.S.-based Nigerian historian and professor of Africana Studies, says Nigerian professionals remain consequential in several fields of endeavour in the U.S. in spite of the prevalent stereotypes about them.

Nwauwa, a director of African Studies at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, U.S. told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that Nigerian professionals could compete with everyone else in the world regardless of race, creed, and other statuses.

He said this after he received the Professor of Service Excellence award for his outstanding achievements and excellence in public service at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, U.S.

The title of Professorship of Service Excellence is conferred upon members of the faculty who hold the rank of professor.

“I feel proud as a Nigerian despite the prevalent negative stereotypes about Nigeria and Nigerians. I do feel proud that Nigerian professionals remain consequential in several fields of endeavour.

“I feel that the more we continue to have good news among professionals, it might eventually begin to rob off on the political class in Nigeria.

“It is my prayer that our political leaders should also begin to make Nigeria proud by excelling in visionary, transparent and effective leadership both at home and internationally.

“That way, we will come full circle to take our desired place as one of the best countries not only in Africa but in the world,” he told NAN.

Nwauwa also advised his fellow lecturers, especially those in Nigeria that they should remain focused on their calling and do the right things always.

He said they should do the right things always by spending more of their time mentoring their students for success, conducting original research and publications.

In addition, Nwauwa advised them to be committed to giving unrestrained service to their universities as well as the public.

“They should remember that the hallmark of our professional lives as intellectuals does not end within the four walls of the university.

“Rather, their influence should also be measured in terms of how their ideas and actions are translated into the public good.

“For the academic, there should be more to life than lining one’s pockets with transient wealth. For me, it is more about touching lives and helping people to actualise their potential,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the Ekwe, Orlu, Imo State, Nigerian- born professor earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from then Bendel State University, now Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State Nigeria.

He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in History at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1989 and 1993 respectively.

Nwauwa is Editor-in-Chief of Ofo Journal of Transatlantic Studies, serves on the editorial board of several international journals and is member of many learned societies.

He was pivotal in the founding of several national and continental organisations including the scholarly Igbo Studies Association for which he served as Programme chair and later President from 2010-2014.

He is the Chairman of Nigerian Diaspora Movement (NDM) and served as Secretary General and member of Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Diaspora Organisations Americas (NIDOA), USA from 2015 to 2020.

Nwauwa is still actively serving the Nigerian, African Diaspora, and African American communities.

As a humanist and goodwill ambassador to the core, Nwauwa has helped to sponsor several indigent students in Nigerian universities.

In 2015, he organised and funded a medical mission to his hometown. Notably, he has helped to bring many Nigerian and Africans students to the USA for advanced studies.

Some of his former doctoral students are now professors at some American universities. Indeed, one of them, supervised by Nwauwa, won the best Ph.D dissertation award not only at Bowling Green State University but also in the state of Ohio.