Anthony
Basil Chibuzor Chiegboka was born on 15th October 1962 at Onitsha,
Anambra State. He hails from Isuofia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra
State. After his primary education, he discerned a calling from God to serve
him in a special way as His minister. As a result, he entered All Hallows
Seminary, Onitsha for minor seminary formation and secondary education after
which he successfully graduated in flying colours with his WASC in 1980. He
then proceeded to Bigard Memorial (now St. Joseph Seminary) Ikot Ekpene, an
Affiliate of Urban University, Rome where he bagged his Bachelor of Philosophy
degree in 1985. Thereafter, he left the seminary and went and walked the paths
of the University of Nigeria for a year and came out in 1987 with an M.Sc.
degree in Public Administration with emphasis on Personnel Management. Anthony
went back to the major seminary for the recommencement of his priestly
formation at Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu, where he did another first degree,
this time, in Theology. His efforts were crowned not only with an award in 1992
of a Bachelor of Theology of the Pontifical Urban University, Rome but also
with a sacred ordination to the Catholic Priesthood on the feast of Queenship
of Mary on August 22, 1992. Since his ordination, Rev. Fr. Chiegboka has served
the Church and society in various capacities as pastor, administrator,
motivator, Preacher, scholar, resource person and team player. Significantly,
he served the Catholic Diocese of Awka with remarkable dedication as the
Secretary to the Bishop Emeritus, diocesan Master of Ceremonies and in
principal organs, councils and committees of the diocese.
But
his fiery interest in scholarship sent him later to Catholic Institute of West
Africa (CIWA) Port Harcourt where he studied, and graduated in Biblical Theology
with an M.Th. degree of the University of Calabar in 1998. However, Rev. Fr.
Anthony Chiegboka earlier cut his teeth in the academia in 1996 when he was
appointed a Lecturer in the Bigard Memorial (now Pope John Paul II) Seminary,
Okpuno, Awka, which is now a worthy Affiliate of this prestigious and great Nnamdi
Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka. Then Rev. Father joined the staff of then
Department of Religious Studies now Department of Religion and Human Relations of
UNIZIK in 1999 as a Lecturer I. He became a Senior Lecturer in 2002.
In
2003 he was grant study leave that found him outside the Nigerian shores in the
prestigious Papal University, that is Pontificia
Universitas Laterenesis, Vatican City
for some other higher canonical, legal and administrative specialization
studies. He came back in 2007 with a diploma certificate in Prassi Amministrativa Canonica, a
Licentiate in Church Administration, and a Doctorate degree in the same field.
It would not be surprising to learn that Fr. Chiegboka recorded summa cum laude probatus (First Class
Honours) in all these areas.
As
a result of his numerous manifestation of scholarship and publications, academic
and administrative leadership, active membership of some academic and
professional bodies, and contributions to the growth of the University and
society, to say the least, Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Chiegboka was pronounced a
Professor of Religion and Society of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka by the
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Boniface C. E. Egboka, PhD, FAS, FNMGS, FNAH, PHF, with
an effective date from 1st October, 2009 just a decade in the
University system.
As
coming really from the academia, Rev. Fr. Prof A.B.C. Chiegboka has littered a
lot of publications including self-authored books, monographs, edited books,
journal articles, chapters in books and conference papers both within and
outside Nigeria. Rev. Fr. Prof. Chiegboka
has been a keen researcher in Religion and Socio-cultural issues, and has
written, spoken and published extensively in those subject areas, a fact that
got him promoted to the apex of his academic profession. This would only have
been possible through diligence, determination, and commitment to research. Professor
Chiegboka is a highly sought after resource person for conferences, seminars,
workshops and retreats. His works reveal his philosophical inquisitiveness and
analytical mind, his originality in thought and ideas as well as his liberality
in information dissemination. His academic prowess has been recognized by the
first indigenous University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Ebonyi State University,
Abakaliki which have sought his services for external examinations.
Yet
as a Church canonist and judicial officer, Chiegboka’s sharp and incisive jurisprudential
prognosis is ever faithful to the magisterial orthodoxy. Although it is rare yet
possible to isolate men who have made outstanding contributions to knowledge
and learning and who have in that way
kept mementos of their creative genius and originality on the plaque of
times, Fr. Professor Chiegboka has shown exemplary academic leadership not only
in editorship of several books and journals, and the supervision unto
completion of many PhD dissertations and Master’s theses, but also in the
charismatic headship of the Department of Religion and Human Relation of this University
for four years, that since 2008.
Note
that it is in the area of administration as much as through his intellectual
culture that Professor Chiegboka demonstrates in excelsis and in concreto
his passion and anxiety to serve humanity. His tenure as Head of Department
since 2008 witnessed the first ever PhD graduand and fourteen PhD Students and
eighty-nine Masters Students. He has recorded through collaboration of the
Staff diligence lecturing, prompt submission of results, steady progress of
staff in education and promotions. This was achieved because of his dedication
to duty and pastoral mindedness. In the Faculty, his designation as Chairman,
Faculty Arts Conference Committee has attracted notable personalities and
national figures like Most Rev Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah, Ambassador Ralph
Uwaechue, OFR, Chief Dr Alex I. Ekwueme, GCON Senator Dr David Mark, GCON and
Professor Chukwuma C. Soludo, CFR, which enhanced the image of the University
and brought the faculty to national and international limelight with the array
of participants. In the University he has served creditably in many Senate
Committees
