TRIBUTE 

Miriam Ikejiani-Clark: Tear For A Quintessential Woman

By Chuks OLUIGBO

The announcement on Thursday, September 22, 2011 of the death of Prof Miriam Odinchezo Ikejiani-Clark, renowned scholar and professor of Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was received with great sadness in many circles, especially among those who knew her personally. Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, who described her as “our illustrious daughter and sister”, commended her contributions to education and governance, adding that “while she was alive, she was our worthy Ambassador and she shall be missed by all, especially those of us in Anambra State.”

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, also described her death as not only a loss to the country, but to the intellectual community. Describing the late minister as an accomplished intellectual and a “tall tree in the forest of knowledge”, Atiku recalled that as the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, the late professor had made single-handed to rebuild and re-equip the faculty in collaboration with members of the university’s alumni association.

The former Vice-President also said that Ikejiani-Clark earned respect and recognition for her intellectual ability and her achievements as Minister of State for FCT, where she made respect for dignity of labour a major public policy by directing construction companies to stop conveying their workers in container trucks. He also added that the timber market in Dei-Dei, Abuja, was a testimony of the vision, foresight, and creativity of the late professor. Many others have also had many positive remarks about her.

A thoroughbred and accomplished academic, Prof Ikejiani-Clark held various administrative positions in the University of Nigeria, which included Head, Department of Political Science, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dean, School of General Studies, among others. She was appointed Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, during the military regime of Gen. Sani Abacha, and she served creditably in that position. Unlike many academics who abandoned the teaching career once they got close to the corridors of power, Miriam diligently returned to the classroom, her primary constituency, after leaving the ministerial post. She authored many books, one of which is the highly celebrated Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria: A Reader.

A woman who never felt intimidated in a male-dominated society, she once gave account of her stewardship as a minister of state in the FCT in an interview with a national daily thus: “I was FCT minister and sold nobody’s land or enriched myself at the expense of the society. I have not been indicted in any manner after leaving office. The signs of my office and tenure are still there because I built the most modern market in Abuja in my days in office, a market with clinics and other facilities. We rehabilitated people rather than throw them out into the streets.”

The late academic was a worthy daughter of Nri, Anambra State, and indeed of Igboland. Her father, Dr. Okechukwu Ikejiani, was a renowned nationalist, First Republic politician, and accomplished scientist. He was one of the founding fathers and member of the governing council of the University of Nigeria. He also held other prominent positions including director of laboratory services in Biafra during the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War, Ambassador Plenipotentiary for the Head of State of Biafra, lecturer in pathology at the University of Nigeria, Pro-Chancellor and chairman of the council of University of Ibadan, consultant pathologist at the University College Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, pathologist-in-chief of the Nigerian Railway Medical Centre, Lagos, member of the board of directors of Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigerian Coal Corporation, and president of the Nigerian Medical Association.

Prof Miriam Ikejiani-Clark, no doubt, will forever remain fresh in the minds of people, particularly her innumerable students who are putting into good use in their various fields of endeavour the unquantifiable knowledge she imparted to them. As one who encountered her personally, I will miss her motherly advice, and I pray that her Maker who has called her back to himself will give her a place in his eternal Paradise. Adieu, dear Prof!