PROF. IYORWUESE HAGHER, Ph.D., OON, FSONTA, FIMC, CMC.
IYORWUESE HAGHER: Professor of (Theater For Development), Public intellectual, Diplomat, Activist, and Writer. He received his primary school education at Zaki-Biam, and attended WM Bristow Secondary School Gboko, Benue State Nigeria. He also attended Kuru Government Secondary School, for his Cambridge University (HSC), and the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where he received the Bachelor of Arts honors degree in English Language in 1974, a Master's degree in Drama, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree (1977 and 1981). He taught Drama and conducted research in African Indigenous Theatres, at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and the University of Jos. He taught undergraduate, and Postgraduate courses in theater and Drama from 1975- 1999. He became a Professor of Theatre and Drama in 1990. He was Chair Department of Theater and Communication Arts.1987-1994. He Chaired several doctorate dissertations and was an external examiner to scores of universities. He served as Mentor Faculty of Antioch University, USA, and a member of the dissertation committee. He was also an external assessor for professorial chairs, to several academics in the humanities.
Hagher has played an active role as an artist and change activist in Nigeria, being one of the architects of the use of Theatre for development, and in harnessing theater for public diplomacy. He also combined his work as a playwright and director to found the Benue State Arts Council and worked with the Tiv peasants in Central Nigeria in the Kwagh-hir puppetry theatre; using the theatre as a change agent. He was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 1983, where he served as Deputy Chief Whip. He was again elected as a member of the constitutional conference of 1994-95, and appointed Nigeria’s Minister of State, for Power and Steel and for Health 1995 – 1998. He established the Leadership Institute Nigeria in 2000 and negotiated peace in the ethnic clashes that took place between the Tiv tribe and their neighbors in Central Nigeria, in which hundreds of lives were lost, and half a million people displaced as internal refugees in 2000. In 2003, he was awarded the National Honors for his contributions in the Arts, peace, and development, as Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON. He was appointed Nigeria’s ambassador in 2004 – 2007 to Mexico with concurrent accreditation to Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Through Hager’s diplomatic acuity, Mexico also established its corresponding Mission in Nigeria in 2007. Between 2008-2012, Hagher was Nigeria’s Head of Mission and High Commissioner to Canada. In both places, Hagher actively promoted cultural diplomacy to enhance bilateral relations between Nigeria and host countries. To his credit, Nigeria and Canada signed the Bi-National Commission.
In all of Hagher’s public service, he served with dedication and distinction. He is today the Executive Director and Founder of the African Leadership Institute U.S.A, in Dayton-Ohio. He is a Trustee of the International Institute of Management Consultants, representing Africa.
He is the President Emeritus of the Leadership Institute Nigeria, and Founding Pro-Chancellor Afe-Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (2010-2019). He is Chairman Board of Trustees Pro-Chancellors of Private Universities of Nigeria. Hagher is also a professional member PEN America
BIOGRAPHY
Early life
Iyorwuese was born the second of seven children. He was an only male child. His father, Daniel Hagher Gbaaiko an indigenous missionary, was Headmaster, Gbagir Christian Primary School. Iyorwuese was trained in the Christian Reformed Church doctrine and was an outstanding student, who exhibited great interest and passion in Sunday School and often collected several prizes, during end-of-year concerts. He attended the WM Bristow Secondary School, ran by Christian Reformed Church Missionaries in Gboko, Nigeria. Here, he exhibited great talent as an actor and amateur playwright, and storyteller. Hagher was mentored as a dramatist, by Mrs. Kingma, and as a creative writer, by Geraldine Vandenberg, his school principal. In 1969, he won the local JF Kennedy Memorial Essay Literary Award, organized by the United States Embassy in Lagos while preparing for his Higher School Certificate at Government College, Kuru.
In 1971 he was admitted to the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. He studied English. He was the leading drama student director and actor and took part in many student productions, including the outstanding musical, Aladdin in the Underground directed by Professor Omte d’Achebe, in which he starred as Aladdin.
After graduation, Hagher returned to Ahmadu Bello University as a pioneer staff of the Centre for Nigerian Cultural Studies and the new Drama Section in the English Department. He co-produced with Dr. Andrew Horn, Peter Badejo, and Ziky Kofoworola, several dance dramas, and starred in Fada-Karwa, as Udoji Dan Zomo. Fadakarwa was a collection of opera style dance-dramas that featured at the Youth Orchestra Festival in Aberdeen in 1975. He performed with this group at Saddlers Wells in London and in St. Andrews in Scotland in the summer of 1975.
As a researcher and lecturer in Drama, Hagher became interested in gender issues relating to theatre and in 1975-77, studied for his master's degree; Women playwrights in Africa, Efua Sutherland, Elvania Zirimu, and Uwa Udensi. He also researched The Kwagh-Hir Theatre, for his PhD, research in which he has become the world’s leading authority. This research has lasted more than thirty-five years and led to the production of films, books, and articles.
He is one of the founders of the Theatre For Development in Nigeria, where he conducted several workshops in Nigeria in Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, and Oyo States and wrote many plays, poems, and books. Hagher strongly believes in the use of theatre for social action and led the movement in Nigeria and Sierra Leone for the use of theatre as a tool for advocacy of youth reproductive health issues, including HIV-AIDS, exposing and fighting corruption, and for development.
PROFESSIONAL AND LITERARY CAREER
Hagher’s literary career started during his early childhood when he participated in traditional story-telling events in the evenings in the village courtyard. He created stories and acted in them. During his primary school, Iyorwuese was active in concerts and enacted biblical morality plays under the direction of Mr. Liambee Shande. During his secondary school days, he received training from Mrs. Laura Kingma. He was both in the school choir, as well as in the drama and debating clubs.
In his undergraduate days, Hagher was featured in the university’s published collection of stories and poems. He was the departmental director of several plays. He also acted in some, including starring in Sarif Easmons' play “Dear Parent and Ogre”, and in "Aladdin in the Underground", an opera, where he played Aladdin, the lead character.
In 1975, when serving in the National Youth Service, he won the best prize for directing Soyinka’s play “The Lion and the Jewel” in the Bendel Cultural Festival for Iguabazuwa Grammar School. As an undergraduate at Ahmadu Bello University, his play “He who laughs last” won the Kaduna State festival prize, in the Drama Category. At the Ahmadu Bello University performing troupe, he took part in Fadakarwa plays which he co-produced. He played the lead character, Udozi Dan Zomo. He wrote his first play “Swem Karagbe”, in 1977. It premiered on 3rd December 1978, at the Ahmadu Bello University, Kongo campus, directed by Ziky Kofoworola and assisted by Bose Tsevende. He also wrote several plays and directed some of them himself.
And since then, Hagher has written and published several plays. He also published a book of poetry titled: "A Day in Mexico City and other poems.
Hagher has lectured extensively in Nigeria, where he taught among other courses; Playwriting, Theater and society, Theater History, African drama, Dramatic criticism, and Theater for development. In 1990 He rose to become a full Professor and Chair of the Department of Theater and Communication Arts, at the University of Jos. He supervised several M.A.s and Ph.Ds. and was an external examiner to the leading Universities in Nigeria in Theater Arts.
Since 2000, Hagher has been a leading voice in Africa on challenges facing African leaders. He has lectured extensively on Leadership issues and has been a critical voice on leadership in Nigeria. His book Nigeria after the Nightmare is considered a significant contribution to transforming leadership in Nigeria. His earlier work Leading Africa out of Chaos and several papers on leadership across the globe earmark Hagher as an emerging voice on leadership and change globally. Since 2012, served as mentor faculty at Antioch University and volunteered to be on the dissertation committee of Emmanuel Funso Oluyitan. Hagher migrated to the US in 2012, and founded the African Leadership Institute USA, where he has commenced leadership training of high-ranking public officials in Africa. See africanleadershipinstituteusa.org. His books on leadership in Nigeria: The Coming Revolution, The Crises of Leadership in Nigeria, and Love: The Greatest law of Leadership, is drawn from his personal experience and of several African leaders. He has for several years 2013-2019, been the Keynote speaker at the Dubai Leadership Summit organized by the Commonwealth University London.
EDUCATION
Primary:
1957 to 1963: Zaki-Biam
Secondary:
1964 to 1968: W.M. Bristow Secondary School, Gboko
1969 to 1970: Kuru Government Secondary School, Kuru
University:
1971-74 and 1976-81: Ahmadu Bello University
B.A., English Language, 1974
M.A., Drama, 1977. Dissertation on “Women Playwrights in Africa”
Ph.D., Drama, 1981. Dissertation on "The Kwagh-hir: A popular Nigerian puppet theatre”
Employment:
1974-1975: National Youth Service Corps. Served as English Language instructor, at Iguabazuwa Grammar School, Bendel State
1975-1983: Ahmadu Bello University
1975-1977: Graduate Assistant
1977-1979: Lecturer II
1979-1982: Lecturer I
1977-1983: Benue State Council for Arts and Culture. Served as part-time Chairman from 1977, while still at Ahmadu Bello University but in 1982, was appointed Chief Executive, a position as Chairman/Director.
1983: Senator and deputy chief whip of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Benue East Constituency. Elected in the elections of August 1983, took office October 1983, tenure terminated by military coup, 31 December 1983.
1984-1996: University of Jos
1984-1987: Senior Lecturer, Theatre and Drama
1987-1990: Associate professor, Theatre and Drama
1990- Date. Full Professor, Theatre and Drama
LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT:
1986 - 1993: Chair, Department of Theatre Arts and Member, University Senate, and Ag Dean Oct.1993-Dec. !993.
1995-1998: Federal Republic of Nigeria
1995-1997: Minster of State for Power and Steel
1997-1998: Minister of State for Health
1998-2000: University of Jos, Professor, Theatre and Drama
2000-2004: Leadership Institute of Nigeria. Founder and President
2004-2007: Federal Republic of Nigeria
Ambassador to Mexico with concurrent accreditation to Panama, Guatemala and Costa Rica
2008-2012; High Commissioner to Canada
2013-2015; Executive Director African Leadership Institute U.S.A.
2013-Present: President and Founder of The Leadership Institute of Nigeria, Founder of Leadership Institute U.K, Founder and Executive Director Leadership Institute USA, and Pro-Chancellor, Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti. Trustee of the ICMCI (the International Council of Management Consultants Institutes)
THEATRICAL ACTIVITIES:
Acting:
1971: Acted as the Boss of Bosses in Sarif Easmon’s play, Dear Parent and Ogre
1974-1975: Played lead character Aladdin in Alec Rowley’s opera Aladdin in the Underground, directed by Dr. Omte De Achebe
1976-1977: Played lead part Udoji Dan Zomo in Fadakarwa Plays, dance drama scripts, developed scripts by Dr. Horn Peter Badejo, Iyorwuese Hagher, Ziky Kofoworola directed by Dr. Andrew Horn
Directing:
1986: Mulkin Mata, premiered at the ABU Congo Campus Conference Centre 14th October 1986
1987: Anti-People, premiered at the Open Air Theatre, University of Jos
PUBLICATIONS:
Plays
I. Hagher, Aishatu, written as a commissioned play by the Lion’s Club of Jos, for advocacy against the use of drugs by teens; premiered on 14th August 1985 as directed by Saint Gbilekaa
I. Hagher, Mulkin Mata, premiered at the ABU Congo Campus Conference Centre on 14th October 1986 as directed by myself
I. Hagher, Anti People, premiered at the Open Air Theatre, University of Jos on 26th February 1987 as directed by myself
I. Hagher, We Protest, premiered at the Open Air Theatre, University of Jos on 2nd March 1988 as directed by Musa Dauda
I. Hagher, Camps of Segbwema, inspired by Lope De Vega’s Fuente Ovejuna; premiered at the Open Air Theatre, University of Jos on 18th November 1989 as directed by Iyowuese Hagher
I. Hagher, Comrade, and Voltage premiered at the University of Lagos on 17th February 2006 as directed by Dr. Hope Eghagha
I. Hagher, The Lamp of Peace, premiered at the Open Air Theatre, University of Jos on 15th March 1998 directed by Mrs. Bose Tsevende
I. Hagher, The Trial of James Skott, written while studying at the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity; premiered at Vere Street, West End, London on November 26, 1999 and directed by Zara Jeffreys
I. Hagher, Lifetimes, written in connection with workshops of the Theatre for Development on HIV-AIDS, sponsored by UNICEF in 1998 at Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria; premiered at Iseyin, Nigeria on 4th December, 1988 as directed by Dapo Adelugba and Femi Osofisan
I. Hagher, The Professor and the Cathedral, premiered at the University of Open Air Theatre, University of Abuja on 13th October, 2001 as directed by Dr. Emmanuel Sani Dandaura
I. Hagher, The Masquerade and the Elephant, premiered at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria on 22nd-24th May 2002 as directed by Dr. Samuel Ayedime Kafewo
I. Hagher, Global Home, premiered at the Leadership Institute theatre in Jos on 29th November 2006 as directed by Bose Tsevende
Collected plays published as I. Hagher, Global Home and Other Plays (Ibadan: Spectrum Books Ltd, 2008, 528 pages). See also Collected Plays Included in BLACK DRAMA, University of Chicago on the web – www.alexanderstreetpress.com, Alexandria VA 22314 USA
Criticism:
I. Hagher, ed., The Practice of Community Theatre in Nigeria (Owerri, Nigeria: Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists, 1990, 111 pages)
I. Hagher, The Tiv Kwagh-hir: a popular Nigerian puppet theatre (Lagos: Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization, 1990, 224 pages). Second expanded edition published as The Kwagh-hir Theatre (a metaphor of resistance) (Ibadan: Caltop Publications, 2003, 302 pages)
Other theatrical activities:
1980-1992: organized annual Kwagh-hir national festivals and acted as chief adjudicator, in Makurdi Benue State.
Conducted “Theatre for Development” workshops in Nigeria 1978-1997, Kenya 1989 and Sierra Leone 1988
2003-2004: worked with Professor Marilyn Gothlieb-Roberts and Charles Retcher to produce film on Kwagh-hir; for further information about the film see http://www.yborfilmfestival.com/2004/works/kwagh-hir.html; for a brief clip see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmQC9Cay7uA
Published Books:
I.Hagher, The leadership Crises in Nigeria, ( Caltrop Press, Ibadan,2022. 220 pages)
I. Hagher, The Coming Revolution, (Caltop Press, Ibadan, 2009. 200 pages)
I. Hagher, Leadership, and Governance in Nigeria: a Christian perspective (Jos: Leadership Press, 2001, 220 pages)
I. Hagher, Leading Africa out of Chaos: a God-centred approach to leadership (Ibadan: Spectrum Books Ltd, 2002, 306 pages)
I. Hagher, Beyond Hate, and Violence: understanding the Tiv struggle for citizenship rights and social justice in Nigeria (Ibadan: Caltop Publications 2002, 236 pages)
I. Hagher, Weapons of Mass Instruction: selected speeches and essays on politics, art, and leadership (Ibadan: Spectrum Books Ltd, 2004, 242 pages)
I. Hagher, A Day in Mexico and Other Poems (Bloomington, IN: Authorhouse, 2009, 184 pages)
I. Hagher, Nigeria after the Nightmare. University Press of America, 2011. 176, pages.
I.Hagher, The Kwaghhir Theatre, a weapon for social action. University Press of America, 2014. 286. pages
I.Hagher, Diverse but not Broken, A wake-up call for Nigerian leaders. 325 pages Ahmadu Bello University Press Zaria/2015
ADDRESSES AND LECTURES:
3rd August 2014: The Leadership legacy of Nelson Mandela and the challenge to African leaders. Address at the Dubai Leadership Conference 2014. Organized by the Commonwealth University.
2nd July 2013: Good governance taking Africa to the next level. A keynote address to the Dubai Leadership Conference 2013. Organized by the Commonwealth University.
24 October 2O12: The Intellectual, the University and the Future of Nigeria. A university public lecture at the Benue State University.
14th September 2012: New trends in Tragedy the Precariat stage and Implication for National Security. Speech was given during the National Convention of the Society of Nigerian theatre artists.
12th August 2012: Striving for a Culture of Leadership Excellence, Inauguration Address at the Leadership Institute London, at the Hilton Docklands London.
29th July 2012: The Leadership Challenge and the Future of Nigeria, Distinguished lecture Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.
17th October 2011: Reflections on Democratic Governance in Nigeria Since 1999: Challenges and Opportunities. Paper presented at Leadership and Governance Conference, at The Leadership Institute Jos.
17th July 2010: Public Policy, Political Development, and Food Security in Nigeria. Keynote Speech at the Mcgill Conference on Global food Security. At The University of McGill Canada.
10th July 2011: The Importance of Cultural Diplomacy in the Foreign Policy of Nigeria. Delivered at the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy, Berlin.
27th June 2010: The role of the Artist as an Intellectual. A University public lecture delivered at Eckhart Hall at the University of Manitoba Winnipeg.
31st May 2010: Building Bridges Between Nigeria and Canada in Education. Address presented at the University of Western Canada.
Feb 5 2010: Poetic Justice in a World Challenged by Values, keynote address during the University of Albertas International week Feb.1-5th Delivered at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
15th May 2009: What does Africa want from the West? An address was delivered to the Canadian Club of Winnipeg.
June 18th 2006: Leadership and Social Responsibility: Commencement, Address at the Alliant International University Mexico Campus,
Honors, awards, and commendations:
Officer of the Order of the Niger - Federal Government of Nigeria’s National Honors Award, November 2003
Fellow, Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists 1994
Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants 1996
International Peace Prize of the United Cultural Convention, Raleigh North Carolina 2001
Mentioned in International Biographies of Who’s Who of Intellectuals (Thirteenth Edition, 1999) Pg. 276
Mentioned in “Who is Who of Canada”, 2009
Featured in Black Drama, Alexander Street Press, 3212 Duke Street, Alexandria VA 22314, USA
Doctor of Letters of St Clement University 2006
Certificate of Recognition as Artist Participant at the Festival of African Dances, 6-13 February, 2005, Festival Tambol, Mexico City
2004 – Distinguished Visitor Award of the Mexican City of San Lois Potosi
2004--Certificate of Honor by the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Jos, for contributing to the spread of learning in the field of Theatre.
Diploma, United Nations Model Uniterm, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, 15th April 2005
Democracy Merit Award, for a role in the struggle for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, 2006 by Benue State Government of Nigeria.
External assessor for position of the professorship of drama:
1994 – Professor Ziky Kofoworola – Ahmadu Bello University
1995 – Professor Chris Nwanmuo – University of Calabar
1998 – Professor Saint Gbilekaa – University of Abuja
1999 – Professor Duro Oni – University of Lagos
2001 – Professor Bode Osanyin – University of Lagos
Main supervisor of Ph.D. candidates at University of Jos:
1986 – 89 Dr. Tom Adaba
1988 – 91 Dr. Musa Dauda
1988 – 91 Dr. Sale Dantala
1990 – 93 Dr. Micah Dadirep
1998 -2001. Dr. Tor Iorapuu
Antioch University Ph.D. Leadership and change.
2012- Mentor Faculty; Emmanuel Funso Oluyitan Ph.D. student of Leadership and change…Chaired by Philomena Essed.
2012-2014. Member; Dissertation Committee, Emmanuel Funso Oluyitan, Chaired by Philomena Essed.
Ongoing Research:
I am presently examining the relationship between Ethics, Leadership, and Good Governance.
REFEREES ON REQUEST
IYORWUESE HAGHER, 2023