Dr. OKAFOR, Ebele Eucharia

Dr. Ebele Eucharia Okafor is a distinguished scholar, educator, translator, researcher, and gender advocate with over two decades of service at the University of Lagos. She specializes in Igbo Studies, focusing on Igbo language, literature, culture, and gender studies. She obtained all her academic qualifications from the University of Lagos: B.A. (Ed.) Igbo Education, M.Ed. Educational Administration, M.A. Igbo Language, and Ph.D. in Igbo Literature and Gender Studies. She rose from Graduate Assistant to Associate Professor, mentoring students and contributing significantly to Igbo and gender studies. She served as Chairperson of the Welfare Committee, Department of Linguistics, African & Asian Studies (2004-2012), and was a member of the Faculty of Arts Seminar and Conference Committee. She produced the Igbo curriculum for the Diploma Programme, University of Lagos (2012) and served as Igbo Subject Coordinator (2017-2025). She was also Chief Reviewer of the JUPEB Igbo Syllabus and an Assessor/Moderator for JUPEB, 2026. She is a Senate Member of the University of Lagos and an External Examiner at Lagos State University of Education. She advises Nzuko Brand (Nigeria/USA) and has published extensively in national and international journals, contributing over 45 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. A two-time TETFund grant recipient (2012, 2022) and a Fellow of the Lagos Studies Association. Her research spans Igbo language, literature, culture, and gender studies. She also advocates for ethical AI for indigenous language preservation and gender equity and is a Research Group Member at the Center for AI and Digital Policy (Fall 2025), Washington, D.C., USA. A respected Igbo translator, she contributed to the Igbo translation of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, Microsoft terminology, and NIMC materials. She has worked with Rembrandt Global Solutions, Beijing Gold KayGee Consultancy, GreenBee Mobile, and Accessible Publishers Ltd., Ibadan, Nigeria Literacy Book Adaptation Project in collaboration with Room to Read, US. She has also co-translated children’s mathematics and English textbooks to Igbo for Accessible Publishers. Co-translator, Iya Alaro Saves the Day (Children’s Novel, 2024), Created and Written by Yewande Amusan and Auke Gomez, A Publication of the Embassy of Ireland in Nigeria, Translated into Igbo Language. She is a member of several professional bodies, including the Igbo Studies Association (ISA), USA; the Lagos Studies Association (LSA); the Directors of Centres for Gender Studies in Nigerian Universities (DCGSNU); and the Literary Society of Nigeria (LSN); Forum of South-East Academic Doctors, Nigeria; and the International Association for Innovations in Educational Assessment (IAIIEA). Member of the Editorial Board of Ugegbe: Journal of Uwandiigbo Academy, USA, 2022. Associate Editor, Igede Igbo: A Journal of Igbo Studies, Department of Linguistics, African & Asian Studies and Igbo Scholars International Journal of Igbo Scholars Forum, Nigeria. Her training includes UNICEF Gender-Based Violence (GBV) support, a Bespoke Certificate Course in Gender and Development at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), a UN masterclass on Women, Peace and Security, and a Certificate in AI Policy Clinic (2025) in Washington, D.C., USA. She actively promotes women’s empowerment, cultural preservation, and social justice.