Prof. Lysias Dodd Gilbert

Prof. Lysias Dodd Gilbert is a distinguished scholar of Political Science and International Relations at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A leading figure in the Faculty of Social Sciences, he has built an impressive academic and administrative career characterised by deep intellectual contributions to governance, security, and development studies in Africa. His work continues to shape policy debates and scholarly conversations at both national and international levels.

A native of Ikuru Town in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Prof. Gilbert has remained closely connected to his community. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ikuru Town Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), where he provides strategic leadership in driving developmental initiatives, educational opportunities, and community-based capacity-building programs.

Prof. Gilbert obtained his PhD in Political Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where his doctoral research focused on ethnic militias and conflict dynamics in the Niger Delta. He also holds an M.Sc. in Political Science from the University of Lagos and a B.Ed. (Honours) degree in Political Science from the University of Ibadan. These academic foundations prepared him for a robust career in teaching, research, and institutional leadership.

He joined IAUE as an academic and rose through the ranks, earning promotion to Professor in May 2018. Over the years, he has held several key positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Head of the Department of Political Science. His academic experience extends beyond Nigeria, as he previously taught at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He also serves on editorial and academic boards, notably as a Consulting Editor for the Journal of Contemporary Issues

Prof. Gilbert’s research interests cut across development studies, governance and democracy, conflict and peace studies, environmental politics, and international relations. His scholarship is particularly influential in analyses of the Niger Delta, focusing on resource politics, oil-related violence, and environmental justice. His studies on ethnic militancy, such as OPC, MASSOB, and MEND, offer important insights into how political elites influence the formation and operations of militia groups. He has also produced highly regarded work on the international dimensions of insurgency, including the role of global actors in the sustenance of Boko Haram.

His widely cited publications include “Ethnic Militancy in Nigeria: A Comparative Re-appraisal of Three Major Ethnic Militias in Southern Nigeria, “Prolongation of Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria: The International Dimensions,” and collaborative works on oil violence and resource governance in the Niger Delta. He has also contributed to scholarly conversations on AFRICOM and the geopolitics of security in Africa. According to the AD Scientific Index, he holds an H-index of 10, reflecting the reach and influence of his scholarship.

In 2024, Prof. Gilbert delivered his 59th inaugural lecture at IAUE, where he advocated a more strategic, economically driven foreign policy for Nigeria, one that moves beyond traditional Africa-centred altruism toward policies that prioritise national development.

Prof. Lysias Dodd Gilbert stands as a scholar, leader, and community builder. Through his academic excellence, administrative service, and committed leadership in Ikuru Town HCDT, he continues to contribute to knowledge, societal progress, and the empowerment of his community. His work remains a reference point for understanding governance, conflict, and development in Nigeria and across Africa.