Iyorwuese Hagher is ranked among the most influential thinkers of politics, philosophy and culture on the African continent. His assemblage of writings, his political and social praxis has been about peaceful change of consciousness to give the African and Nigerian citizen, freedom from ignorance, poverty and hate. He has remained resolute that the African elite and the political class is the main reason for Africa’s backwardness. Some of Iyorwuese Hagher’s books include:
Leading Africa Out of Chaos – Hagher’s early classic book on leadership teaches leadership as servant-ship and the importance of a God-centered leadership for social transformation. He examined the contribution of Nelson Mandela and Julius Kanbarage Nyerere as role models and leadership icons on the continent.
Weapons of Mass Instruction - Contains Hagher’s classical essays, lectures and letters about politics, art, leadership, and the role of religion for social transformation. Hagher writes as an important political figure who had been in the Nigeria Senate, and drafted the 1994 and 1995 Nigeria’s constitution and mediated in the peaceful resolution of the 2001 -2002 ethnic conflict in central Nigeria and brought back peace to the area. He is presently working to resolve the festering cases of assassinations in Benue state of Nigeria.
Beyond Hate and Violence - In this book, Hagher examines the effect of democracy in helping to fuel tension in tandem with bad governance and corruption. He examines how his ethnic group the Tiv known for their egalitarian lifestyle has been systematically targeted for genocidal acts in a Nigeria where political and traditional leaders collude to enslave ordinary citizens who are killed like rats while their farmlands are appropriated. Hagher represented his people at the Justice Open judicial commission; where he coordinated the views of the Tiv people which weighed heavily in the verdict of the tribunal that the Obasanjo led Government was guilty of inhumanity against the Tiv people.
A Day In Mexico City and Other Poems - This collection of Hagher’s of political and religious poems revolve around the global injustices against Africa, “ Once Upon an Eagle”. His own political struggle and personal betrayals, and the non-deniability of God. Hagher examines the plight of the global poor and the notion of LGBT struggle.
Nigeria after the nightmare - This book was written during Hagher’s tenure as high commissioner to Canada. The book contains Hagher’s political manifesto and his agenda to revitalize leadership and governance in Nigeria. Hagher sees the road to Nigeria’s true greatness in a new type of leadership where responsibility and vision can lead Nigeria out of the nightmare of gross leadership. Stupidity in unenlightened self-interest. Hagher prescribes the roles for the political elite, the youth, and the Nigerian diaspora. He gives a detailed description of the qualities; the next Nigerian president must have to lift Nigeria to greatness.
The Tiv Kwagh-hir : Weapon for Social Action - This book has been hailed as a groundbreaking seminal contribution to the theatre world globally. In the book, Hagher captures in his 35 years research in the Tiv Puppet Theatre the Kwagh-hir. Hagher exposes the intersection between art, culture and social action for good governance. The book offers a rare theorization of a non- western theatre with exceptional lucidity. He deals with issues like the perennial clashes between the herdsmen and crop farmers and political corruption and the use of theatre and drama for conflict resolution.
Diverse but not Broken: Wake up Call For Nigeria - The book is presented through original essays, lectures, articles and speeches. In twenty-three short chapters, Hagher deals with issues of the nation’s toxic leadership culture, and its disruptive propensity on democracy and good governance. His efforts move from leadership and government to the role of the artist and intellectual, film, investment, public policy, food security, tragedy, morality and constitutionality. This volume highlights Hagher as a deep thinking intellectual and thinker and provides in Hagher a mouth piece for profound change to make Nigeria and Africa greater.
Corruption in Africa: 15 plays by Iyorwuese Hagher - This book captures the 41 years of the dramaturgy of Iyorwuese Hagher in 15 plays. The play X-rays the life of the Africa common people and their chief predator the ruling elite. In play after play, corruption, bad governance, identity politics and racial and ethnic discrimination are highlighted and downgraded. Hagher’s plays entertain with deep humor but teach great lessons about servanthood, life, love, justice, and leadership. The plays express the tensions between the intellectual and politician; these are also the contradictions in Hagher’s personal life. The most foremost plays: Aishatu, Mulkin Mata, Swem Karagbe ,Mulkin Matasa, the Camps of Segbwema, and the Professor and the Cathedral are overtly political and refer to events in Africa’s recent past.