PERSONALITY INTERVIEW: I saw the investiture as Emeritus Professor coming, but didn't know when, Says Prof. Nwamuo

Prof Chris Ifeanyichukwu Nwamuo is a renowned academic. Nwamuo started his early education at the Stella Maris College, Port Harcourt under the tutelage of Rev Fr. Thomas Selvin, the school principal. 

Prof Nwamuo has trod the corridors of several academic institutions in Nigeria and across continents, in the quest for knowledge. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English Language from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and followed it up with a postgraduate Diploma in Education from the prestigious University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) which was an indicative of a teaching career. 

In search of more academic laurels, Nwamuo went to the United States of America where he enrolled for a Master’s degree in Theatre Directing at the Department of Theatre and Speech, University of South Carolina. He became the first African Director in South Carolina. 

Thereafter, a Ph.D in Curriculum Studies and stayed at University of South Carolina and enrolled for a post-Doctoral degree in Media Arts. A Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) from the Commonwealth University in Belize, Central America later followed.

At the University of Calabar where Nwamuo plied his trade, it has been an impactful journey. Service to the University became second nature as he has lectured;  taught and moulded the students. Indeed, he has impacted. 

Prof Nwamuo has to his credit 30 books, 60 book chapters, 75 journal articles, and 45 poems. 
Nwamuo has produced 20 Professors, three Deputy Vice Chancellors, over 25 PhDs in Theatre and allied disciplines, and hundreds of graduates! 

He was a two-term Head of Department, Theatre and Media Studies; two-term Dean, Faculty of Arts; founding Director, Bassey Andah Institute for African and Asian Studies; 
And is currently the chairman, University of Calabar Ceremonials Committee.
Nwamuo can also wear the toga of an Academic Ambassador effortlessly, given his numerous forays outside the University of Calabar without any dent on his functions and responsibilities. 

He was the founding Head of Department, Imo State University, Owerri; founding Dean of Humanities, Gregory University, Uturu, Okigwe; Director, Hopes on the Horizon Africa Media Project,
AAU and Blackside Films, Boston, USA. 

He was also Academic Diplomat with the Association of African Universities, Accra, Ghana; Board member, National Universities Commission, Abuja; member, African Universities’ Collaboration Team at the University of Zambia; member of the University of Calabar Senate for 30 years; president, African Association for Arts Administration; and chairman, West African Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies.

Prof Chris Nwamuo who has delivered public lectures in six African countries and three European universities, has expounded knowledge, generated knowledge, and disseminated knowledge across nations of the world.He also attracted the establishment of the Social and Behavioral Change Communication programme to the University of Calabar in 2011, making the University the fifth in the world to be running such a programme.

A donation of 45 volumes of book titles from universities in the United Kingdom to the University of Calabar; attracting international visibility to the University of Calabar through directing a Nigerian play, The Squeeze, with an all-white cast at the University of Leicester, England; attracting the British Council Bubble Theater Company to the University of Calabar in a partnership which yielded 220 pounds to the University; and directing a world premiere of the play, Then She Said It, at the University of Calabar, with a 25,000 pounds from Carnegie Foundation, USA, are also efforts made by Nwamuo to position the University of Calabar in good stead, even beyond the shores of the country. 

A pious Catholic and member of the Knights of St Mulumba Nigeria, Nwamuo serves the Order as Supreme Public Relations Officer.

And to cap it all, the University of Calabar, on Saturday,  March 23, 2025 invested  Prof. Nwamuo as an emeritus professor of the University of Calabar.

 In this interview with JUDEX OKORO of THE BEAGLE NEWS, Nwamuo said' "I saw the investiture as Emeritus Professor coming, but didn't know when it would come"

 Excerpts: 

 Professor Nwamuo on Saturday March 22, you were invested as an emeritus professor of the University of Calabar in the Special area of arts  How does sir feel being an emeritus professor?

Quite happy. Feeling completely fulfilled in the academic world and being publicly recognized by the University of Calabar.

Prof Chris Nwamuo

 Were you expecting this honour?

Well, to be honest with you, I saw it coming though in life you are not sure of anything until it actually becomes yours. Even the food you eat is never yours until it sits well in the epiphany of your stomach.

 Why because your profile is intimidating enough for everybody to see you are qualified?

Yes. An emeritus professor, the issue is purely an academic thing that is usually based on seniority, academic export contributions to knowledge, financial attraction to the university, contribution to the visibility of the University, the extent to which one has generated and disseminated knowledge locally and globally and evidence of having a meritorious service to the university after retirement. It is not a political or sectional issue that is subject to debate, contestation or competition.

 The qualifications for such recognition are clear. So, going by such guidelines I feel I was qualified and was therefore expecting it. Thank God it came.

 I watched you being invested and decorated and you made a moving speech, do you still remember the content?

Not really. But I remember appreciating the community, administration of the University of Calabar for finding me qualified, fit and proper for the recognition. I dedicated the award to God Almighty who made it possible. Then to my family the theatre scholars, to the literature and then to humanity. I then promised to use the position to serve the University of Calabar with greater passion, commitment and dedication with all the experience at my disposal.

 What do you refer to as the literati and members of the Republic of letters?

Oh! By that literati I am referring to the literature minded people who appreciate literature , its genres and the soothing effect on humanity. Members of the Republic of letters are like the learned gentlemen as the lawyers would say. In this context, they are the humanised individuals who are educated, cultured and refined people who are discerning and understand the essence and impact of knowledge and refinement. Such people will appreciate the meaning and worth of such an honour in the arts.

 Prof, we understand you have a D. Litt degree from the Commonwealth University in Belize. What is the significance of this degree?

 I got the honour and award in 2015, 19 years ago, as if it was in preparation for this emeritus award. For the literati, the D. Litt degree is an unusual and uncommon degree bestowed on persons who have excelled in knowledge creation and have espoused knowledge creation and its literature to that field of study. According to Professor Duncan, the DVC academic of the University, after decorating me with the gown and cap of the University said "the degree is an exceptional degree in the humane letters that recognizes a scholar of outstanding attainment and immense literature knowledge and also the highest honour bestowed on an individual in the arts and humanity. I think this emeritus award fits it all 

 The University equally recognised two other colleagues of yours?

Yes. The emeritus professorship was equally conferred on Professor Eka Braide of the biological sciences and Professor Eme Osim of the College of Medicine. So the awards were carefully selected to represent the Arts, the Biological Sciences and from the Medical School. The academic awards are in recognition of achievement and accomplishment as an icon of knowledge in the university.