HISTORIC ICON: KENNETH DIKE
Kenneth Onwuka Dike was born December 17, 1917, in Awka, former Eastern region, Nigeria. He attended Dennis Memorial Grammar school, Onitsha and went on later to Achimota College in Ghana and then to Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone. He received his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Durham, England and a Master in Arts degree from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Later on, he earned his Ph.D. in history from the University of London.
With a PhD from London, Dike became the first African to complete Western historical professional training. At the University College of Ibadan, he became the first African Professor of History and Head of History Department. He founded the Nigerian National Archives, and helped in the founding of the Historical Society of Nigeria.
As both a Historian and leader of the University of Ibadan's Post-Graduate School in Nigeria, Dike, according to Michael Crowther was said to have "Nigerianized Nigerian history". Through his work, he gave the world an understanding of the way trade was carried out along the Niger River and in the Niger Delta during the 19th century. His best known book is ‘Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta 1830-1890’ published in 1956. The work, based on his doctoral dissertation, looked at how economic change affected the political and social life of 19th century Nigeria. The 1950s proved to be Dike's most productive scholarly years—preceding his university administrative career and later political activity in the interest of an independent Biafra.
In 1953 his Report on the Preservation and Administration of Historical Records in Nigeria was published. This led to the setting up the Nigerian National Archives which he later served as Director. He also served as Chairman of the Nigerian Antiquities Commission. In 1957 and 1958 respectively, he published ‘A Hundred years of British Rule in Nigeria’ and ‘The Origins of the Niger Mission’.
From 1960 until late 1966 Dike was Vice-Chancellor at the then University College, now University of Ibadan. Prior to assuming that position, he had been Director of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ibadan, in addition to being Director of the National Archives. His combined administrative/academic skills also led to his appointment as Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
His resignation as Vice-Chancellor came in December 1966, at the beginning of the Nigerian Civil War. From Ibadan, between 1967 to 1970, the former Vice-Chancellor, went home to become Biafra's roving Ambassador travelling extensively and speaking out on behalf of the Biafran position in the civil conflict. He proved to be one of Biafra's top emissaries being a visible and important component in negotiations at various stages throughout the conflict, pleading for Biafran recognition.
During the Civil war, he became the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nsukka, Enugu. During the final days of the secession effort he served as Biafra's representative at cease-fire negotiations in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
In the 1970s, during the post war years, he went into exile in the United States where he took up an academic position at Harvard University. From 1971 to 1973, he was Chairman of the Committee on African Studies at Harvard University. Then in 1973 he was appointed the first Mellon Professor of African History at Harvard. He continued to teach there until 1978, when he returned to Nigeria. Back in Nigeria, he went into administrative work, as President of Anambra State University.
Dike, the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and a former Vice Chancellor University of Nsukka was the first modern scholarly proponent of Africanist history, an Academician of great repute and an astute administrator.
Kenneth Dike died in an Enugu hospital on October 26, 1983, at age 65.
The famous Kenneth Dike Library in the University of Ibadan was named after him.
Compiled by: NELLY NWAKA OHUCHE
September 2019
With a PhD from London, Dike became the first African to complete Western historical professional training. At the University College of Ibadan, he became the first African Professor of History and Head of History Department. He founded the Nigerian National Archives, and helped in the founding of the Historical Society of Nigeria.
As both a Historian and leader of the University of Ibadan's Post-Graduate School in Nigeria, Dike, according to Michael Crowther was said to have "Nigerianized Nigerian history". Through his work, he gave the world an understanding of the way trade was carried out along the Niger River and in the Niger Delta during the 19th century. His best known book is ‘Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta 1830-1890’ published in 1956. The work, based on his doctoral dissertation, looked at how economic change affected the political and social life of 19th century Nigeria. The 1950s proved to be Dike's most productive scholarly years—preceding his university administrative career and later political activity in the interest of an independent Biafra.
In 1953 his Report on the Preservation and Administration of Historical Records in Nigeria was published. This led to the setting up the Nigerian National Archives which he later served as Director. He also served as Chairman of the Nigerian Antiquities Commission. In 1957 and 1958 respectively, he published ‘A Hundred years of British Rule in Nigeria’ and ‘The Origins of the Niger Mission’.
From 1960 until late 1966 Dike was Vice-Chancellor at the then University College, now University of Ibadan. Prior to assuming that position, he had been Director of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ibadan, in addition to being Director of the National Archives. His combined administrative/academic skills also led to his appointment as Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
His resignation as Vice-Chancellor came in December 1966, at the beginning of the Nigerian Civil War. From Ibadan, between 1967 to 1970, the former Vice-Chancellor, went home to become Biafra's roving Ambassador travelling extensively and speaking out on behalf of the Biafran position in the civil conflict. He proved to be one of Biafra's top emissaries being a visible and important component in negotiations at various stages throughout the conflict, pleading for Biafran recognition.
During the Civil war, he became the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nsukka, Enugu. During the final days of the secession effort he served as Biafra's representative at cease-fire negotiations in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
In the 1970s, during the post war years, he went into exile in the United States where he took up an academic position at Harvard University. From 1971 to 1973, he was Chairman of the Committee on African Studies at Harvard University. Then in 1973 he was appointed the first Mellon Professor of African History at Harvard. He continued to teach there until 1978, when he returned to Nigeria. Back in Nigeria, he went into administrative work, as President of Anambra State University.
Dike, the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and a former Vice Chancellor University of Nsukka was the first modern scholarly proponent of Africanist history, an Academician of great repute and an astute administrator.
Kenneth Dike died in an Enugu hospital on October 26, 1983, at age 65.
The famous Kenneth Dike Library in the University of Ibadan was named after him.
Compiled by: NELLY NWAKA OHUCHE
September 2019
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