Dr. Fredrick Eze Chikeziye Onyeoziri was an erudite scholar and prolific writer with numerous academic awards, distinctions, and over 26 scholarly publications to his credit. He was a valuable member of the teaching staff of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ibadan for 25 years before retiring in 2006. He continued to make significant contributions to academia and politics in Nigeria after his retirement, serving as a visiting professor at Igbinedion University and holding several positions within the People’s Democratic Party. Dr. Onyeoziri passed away in 2023 after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Obituary: Dr. Fredrick Eze Chikeziye Onyeoziri (1941-2023).
Dr. Fredrick Eze Chikeziye Onyeoziri, popularly known as Fred Onyeoziri, passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. He was born on July 21, 1941, in Umuokehi-Ohuhu, which is now part of the Umuahia North Local Government Council in Abia State, Nigeria.
Dr. Onyeoziri was a distinguished alumnus of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where he obtained his B.Sc. Second Class Upper Division Degree in Political Science in 1967. He furthered his education at the University of Chicago, Illinois, USA, where he obtained both his Master’s and Ph.D. Degrees in Political Science in 1974 and 1980, respectively.
Dr. Onyeoziri served as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, Chicago, from 1978 to 1980 and as an Assistant Professor at Loyola University of Chicago from 1980 to 1981, both in Illinois State, USA. In 1981, he returned to Nigeria and joined the teaching staff of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ibadan. He was promoted from Lecturer II to Senior Lecturer in 1989 and remained a valuable member of the teaching staff until his passing.
Dr. Onyeoziri made significant contributions to the growth and development of the Department of Political Science, where he served as the Coordinator of the Undergraduate Affairs and Postgraduate Programmes at different times. His specialization, teaching, and scholarship were in Empirical Political Theory, and he was also well-versed in the sub-discipline of Comparative Politics, Theory & Methodology, particularly in Political Behaviour and Logic of Political Inquiry. He was also knowledgeable in Nigerian Government and Politics.
The Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, mourns the loss of Dr. Onyeoziri, who was an outstanding academic and an asset to the institution.
Dr. Fredrick Eze Chikeziye Onyeoziri – An Eminent Scholar
Dr. Fredrick Eze Chikeziye Onyeoziri, a distinguished scholar, passed away on February 28, 2023. He was a prolific writer and authored the nationally acclaimed university textbook on The Citizen and The State (2005: Ibadan University Press). He also wrote a number of technical reports, monographs, and several scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Onyeoziri had a total of 26 scholarly publications to his credit. He was a regular columnist for various national daily newspapers, contributing over 400 writings that could have been developed and accepted as journal articles in some other climes.
A Mentor and a Teacher
Dr. Onyeoziri was a mentor and teacher to many. He trained ten PhDs and scores of M.Sc degree holders and supervised hundreds of first-degree graduates in their various final-year project essays. Many of his former students are now occupying top positions in university and administration, public service, government, and politics at all tiers of the Nigerian federation, as well as in the private sector plying their various trades whether as journalists, business consultants, and NGO operatives.
Awards and Distinctions
Dr. Onyeoziri received numerous awards and distinctions during his lifetime. Some of his most notable awards include:
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Department of Political Science Prize (jointly shared with one of the Department’s Foundation Class members), University of Ibadan, 1965
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Faculty Prize, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, 1965
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German Academic Exchange Scholarship, 1965- 1967
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The University of Ibadan Postgraduate Scholarship, used for commencing his postgraduate studies at Ibadan, 1970-71
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The Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship, 1971-1976. This award was what he utilized for commencing and completing his (post)graduate training in the USA and leading to the PhD degree which he earned from the University of Chicago.
Professional Memberships
Dr. Onyeoziri was a member of several professional associations, including the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), the African Political Science Association (APSA), and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). He had a highly visible Friday Column in the Guardian Newspapers in the 1980s and early 1990s as an editorial board member of the paper. He moved on to become Chairman of the Editorial Board and later CEO of the Post Express Newspapers.
Dr. Onyeoziri was an eminent scholar whose contribution to the growth and development of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ibadan cannot be overemphasized. He will be greatly missed.
Dr. Fredrick Eze Chikeziye Onyeoziri – An Intellectual Giant
Dr. Fredrick Eze Chikeziye Onyeoziri retired from the University of Ibadan after 25 years of unbroken and meritorious service in 2006. However, he never retired from intellectual work. Dr. Onyeoziri continued to make significant contributions to academia and the political scene in Nigeria.
Post-Retirement Engagements
After retiring from the University of Ibadan, Dr. Onyeoziri took up a visiting professor position at Igbinedion University in Edo State in 2006-2007. He then spent two years on sabbatical leave at the National University Commission in Abuja, FCT. He also served as a member of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), with its headquarters in Abuja, FCT.
Contributions to National Politics
Dr. Onyeoziri also played an active role in national politics. He served as the National Director of Research at the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and was the Secretary of the PDP Presidential Screening Committee for the 2006-2007 Presidential Election. He also served as a Political Adviser to the National Chairman of the PDP.
Legacy
Dr. Fredrick Eze Chikeziye Onyeoziri passed away in Abuja after a brief illness. He is survived by his loving wife, children, and grandchildren. Dr. Onyeoziri was an intellectual giant, an erudite scholar, and a mentor to many. He will be deeply missed.
May his soul rest in peace.
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