Apollos Okwuchi NwauwaView profile
Professor
Dr. Apollos Okwuchi Nwauwa serves as Professor of History in the Department of History at Bowling Green State University's College of Arts and Sciences. His expertise spans Modern Africa with specialized focus on Nigerian history, Igbo studies of Southeastern Nigeria, African education systems, and Africa's global political engagement. His educational foundation includes: PhD in African History from Dalhousie University, Canada (1993) MA in African History from Dalhousie University, Canada (1989) BA (Hons) from Bendel State University, Nigeria (1986) Dr. Nwauwa's research critically examines colonial legacies in African education , Igbo socio-political organization , and post-colonial Nigerian leadership . His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary challenges, particularly exploring how traditional Igbo structures interact with modern governance systems and how colonial educational policies continue to shape African development trajectories. He emphasizes the agency of African intellectuals in navigating global ideologies. His recent publications (2015-2022) reveal consistent thematic threads: the Cold War's impact on Nigerian universities , evolving Igbo identity in post-colonial contexts, and critical reassessments of colonial education . These works demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches connecting political history, cultural studies, and educational policy analysis, often challenging Eurocentric narratives through African-centered perspectives. Key honors include: Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award (2011) for Michael Kithinji's research Ohio Academy of History Dissertation Award (2011) Isaac Walton Killam Scholarship (1990) Head of Department Award as Best History Graduate (1986) As a dedicated mentor, Dr. Nwauwa has supervised doctoral candidates including award-winning student Michael Kithinji. His grant portfolio features a $50,000 Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant grant (2010-2016) for Swahili instruction, multiple Faculty Research Incentive Grants totaling over $15,000, and support from the Institute for the Study of Culture and Society. These resources have advanced his research on Nigerian universities during the Cold War and Africana educational initiatives. Though not lab-affiliated, Dr. Nwauwa actively shapes scholarly discourse through leadership in the Igbo Studies Association (serving as President during 2012-2014 conferences), African Studies Association, and Nigerian Studies Association. His conference presentations and invited talks consistently foster transnational academic networks focused on African historiography and contemporary political challenges.









