Egodi Uchendu was born on March 2, 1967, in Aba, just months before the Nigerian Civil War erupted. Though she was too young to remember the conflict, it left an indelible mark on the country and, later, on her academic journey. She would go on to study and document its history, confronting the emotional and intellectual weight of revisiting such a painful past.
While she could not directly link the circumstances of her birth to her eventual career, Egodi became deeply immersed in researching the war. It was one of the most challenging studies she ever undertook, given the emotional and intellectual weight of revisiting such a painful past.
After the war, Egodi’s family resettled in Enugu, a city that became both a refuge and a crucible for her emerging identity. Born into a family that valued education, she was the seventh of fourteen children—her father, a medical doctor, and her mother, a schoolteacher, instilled in her the importance of learning.
Despite the increasing enrolment of women in higher education, systemic barriers persisted. In 1970, for example, only 11% of women between the ages of 25 and 64 held a bachelor’s degree or a higher qualification. Socioeconomic challenges, early marriage, limited financial support and cultural expectations often hindered women’s academic advancement.
Egodi, however, overcame these obstacles, though she did not initially recognize the significance of her access to education.
“I did not know that girls’ education wasn’t so popular until I entered university,” she recalled. “There were just seven girls in my class. In my second year, many of my female classmates didn’t return. One of them, a close friend, had to work on the farm to raise money for school. That was an eye-opener.”
Her father had envisioned a legal career for her, but after two unsuccessful attempts at gaining admission to study law, she pivoted to a field she had always enjoyed—history. In October 1985, Egodi stepped into the historic halls of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where she began redefining what it meant to be a scholar in a society still healing from its scars.
She graduated in 1989 but faced a temporary setback when political unrest under General Babangida’s regime forced a six-month academic shutdown. Undeterred, she completed her National Youth Service in 1990 and immediately embarked on a master’s program.
Egodi’s passion for research blossomed during her undergraduate years. Unlike many of her peers who shied away from it, she found joy in uncovering hidden insights—what she described as “extracting gold from the rubble.”
Despite challenges such as limited resources, financial constraints, and inadequate accommodations, she creatively navigated these obstacles by seeking refuge in church guesthouses and leveraging her academic network. This period marked the beginning of her lifelong dedication to research.
Initially drawn to political history, Egodi enrolled in a PhD program, choosing to study continental organisations, specifically the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). However, two years into her research, institutional politics forced a shift in her focus.
A conflict with her supervisor, who openly admitted feeling threatened by her work, delayed her progress. Rather than succumb to pressure, Egodi redirected her research to an area with glaring gaps: the role of women in the Nigerian Civil War.
Despite immense resistance, she triumphed. Her PhD thesis earned two prestigious awards—one for the best thesis in her faculty and another for the entire university. However, the road to this achievement was riddled with obstacles. Her supervisor deliberately stalled her thesis defence by appointing either deceased or retired examiners.
“He told me he would delay it for as long as he could so that by the time the defence happened, I would have forgotten everything,” she recounted.
A twist of fate intervened when her supervisor traveled, allowing another colleague to take charge. A new examiner was swiftly appointed, and her long-awaited defence finally took place. Despite the exhaustion, she succeeded.
During this period, she nearly lost a Fulbright fellowship but, with her husband’s encouragement, seized the opportunity. When she returned a year later, her examination was still pending. Nevertheless, she persevered, emerging victorious with a well-earned PhD.
Even after earning her doctorate, Egodi faced further obstacles. One of her lowest moments was being denied an academic promotion for four years—a conspiracy by colleagues who viewed her rising prominence as a threat. But true to her resilient nature, she refused to let adversity define her. A decade later, she finally ascended to the rank of full professor.
Beyond academia, Egodi maintains a rigorous schedule with personal discipline. Her mornings begin before dawn—often before 3 a.m.—allowing her time for an hour-long walk and moments of quiet reflection before stepping into her office by 7 or 8 a.m. Despite her demanding workload, she dedicates at least thirty minutes daily to personal research.
Her commitment to academia extends to mentorship. Recognizing the hurdles faced by emerging scholars, she established research workshops, practical field visits, and seminars that have become lifelines for many students and junior academics. Her guiding philosophy is: “The devil will fight you where your destiny is.”
Parallel to her scholarly pursuits, Egodi launched the “Don’t Litter Initiative” in 2022. This was a direct response to the severe waste management crisis that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic when financial difficulties led to the retrenchment of over 100 workers, leaving the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, overwhelmed by waste.
The initiative actively educates university staff and students on responsible waste management practices and aims to foster a culture of environmental responsibility. A major AHRDC conference scheduled for April 7–9 will further discussions on sustainable waste management strategies.
Egodi’s current research explores the often stigmatised issue of infertility among women, examining its impact across different kinship systems. With 86 publications, 13 books, and more in progress, her academic legacy is both prolific and transformative.
Among her notable works are Where Women Marry Wives (documentary), Economic History of Nigeria Since 1800 (2024), Witchcraft in Africa: Meanings, Factors, and Practices (2023), Nigeria’s 2019 Democratic Experience (2022), Negotiating Patriarchy & Gender in Africa (2021), and Nigeria’s Resource Wars (2020).
Reflecting on her travels, Egodi cites Germany, Australia, and Israel as highlights. In Germany, where she spent time on a lifelong fellowship, she admired the country’s orderliness and efficient public transport. Australia, particularly Adelaide, captivated her with its serene, low-rise lifestyle, while Israel impressed her with its groundbreaking innovations and relentless drive for research.
On the subject of black history, she calls for a reclamation of African narratives beyond colonial distortions. She emphasizes the importance of delving into historical records to understand the true strength and resilience of black communities.
Today, Professor Egodi Uchendu (PhD), FHSN, FRDA, FNAL, remains a distinguished historian and the President of the African Humanities Research & Development Circle (AHRDC).
As an Associate Editor of History in Africa: A Journal of Debates, Methods, and Source Analysis and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of African Humanities and Research Development (JAHRD), she continues to shape the discourse on African historiography, leaving an indelible mark on academia and beyond.
Egodi Uchendu, born in 1967 in Nigeria, developed a profound commitment to studying the Nigerian Civil War, which left a lasting impression on her and the country. She grew up in Enugu, in a family that valued education, and overcame systemic barriers and limited opportunities for women in academia. Her journey took her through the University of Nigeria where she pivoted from an initially intended legal career to pursue history. Despite institutional politics and a challenging PhD path, Egodi emerged with a highly acclaimed thesis on women's roles in the civil war, facing adversities with resilience and determination.
Egodi has become a full professor and continues to contribute significantly to academia while mentoring emerging scholars. She founded workshops and seminars addressing educational challenges. In response to the COVID-19 crisis at UNN, she launched the "Don't Litter Initiative," promoting waste management and environmental responsibility. Her prolific academic output includes 86 publications and notable works exploring various aspects of Nigerian history and African narratives.
Traveling extensively, she reflects on the unique qualities of places like Germany, Australia, and Israel. She advocates for reclaiming African narratives, emphasizing the importance of understanding African resilience and history. As President of the African Humanities Research & Development Circle and an editor of two academic journals, Professor Uchendu remains a leading figure in shaping discourse on African historiography.
