BIRTH
Augustine Ikechuku Ahiauzu was bom in Odeke, an Igala speaking area in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State on the 27th of July 1943 to late Evangelist Thompson Ahiauzu and Mrs Agnes (Titinwa Oba) Ahiauzu. He was the first son and surviving child of the family and dearly beloved by his father. At the time of Augustine’s birth, his father was a missionary serving at Odeke and the Church planted in the community by his Catechist father was named St. Augustine Anglican Church.
EDUCATION
Augustine had his primary education at St Gabriel’s primary school Umuleri (Anambra state) where he obtained his standard VI certificate with distinction in 195 8. He subsequently enrolled in St Pauls College Awka where he did a 4 year teachers training program which he concluded in 1967. It was then that he realized his passion for teaching and then became fully engaged in organizing tutorial lessons for his colleagues and younger students. From the proceeds of the tutorial lessons, the young Augustine was able support his education as well as give support to his parents and siblings, up to the extent of rebuilding the mud house of his father into a standard modem building.
Augustine passed his London GCE O’ level and A’ level exams in flying colours, obtained an Intermediate Law Certificate as an external candidate from the University of London in 1971 and then gained admission with, full scholarship, into the prestigious Aston University in Birmingham, United Kingdom where he obtained his M.Sc. in Personnel Management in 1979. He went further to complete a Ph.D. in Industrial Relations and Organizational Behaviour at the same institution in 1981, where he got a temporary appointment in the Organisation, Personnel and Manpower Division of the Faculty of Management. During his time at the UK, he distinguished himself by receiving the ‘Best Student Prize’ in two professional exams.
1) Best Student Prize’ of the Department of Management and Business Administration of Famborough College of Technology, United Kingdom, for my outstanding performance in the A.C.I.S. Examination in 1976.
2) Best Students Prize’ of the Department of management and Business Administration of Famborough College of Technology, United Kingdom, for my outstanding performance in the A.I.P.M Examination in 1977.
CAREER
Augustine Ahiauzu had a stint with the College of Science and Technology (CST) as an Administrative staff first as an Administrative Officer (Personnel) between 1972 and 1975, and Senior Assistant Registrar (Personnel) between 1979 – 1981, at which time he had his scholarship to the UK. Upon his return from United Kingdom in 1982, he got an appointment as Lecturer 1 at the Department of Management at the C The young academic, Dr. Ahiauzu was a high flyer. With hard work and dedication, and after only 5 year his appointment as lecturer 1, he rose to the rank of Professor of Management in 1987, specializing in Industrial Relations and Organizational Behaviour (an uncommon feat in the academia). He plays pioneering role in building the Department of Management (formerly Department of Business Administration) and the Faculty of Management Sciences in general. He laid the foundation for institution of a strong research culture in the entire faculty first as the Coordinator of the Post Gradi Programme in the Faculty between 1982 and 1985, and later when he filled the gap created by shortage of manpower to Supervise Ph.D. candidates across the various departments in the Faculty. Today many of his former students are Professors across the management science disciplines, and now providing academic leadership not only in this University but across Universities in Nigeria.
In 2003, Prof. Ahiauzu was appointed a Non-resident Visiting Professor of Management by the Makereke University Business School, Kampala, Uganda. This caused him to embark on frequent trips to Uganda where he played a leading role in building capacity in general management and management research in the school. Serving in that capacity from 2003 till his demise, he supervised scores of Ph.D. projects with a number of his students now full-fledged professors. His services were well appreciated and he was given a meritorious award on May 27, 2001 in recognition of his ‘Outstanding Academic Achievement and Continuous & Consistent Research in Makerere Business School’. Prof. also served in other academic positions including:
Guest Editor – a special issue of the “International studies of management and organization” (New York, USA-1986).
Editor – Nigerian Journal of Management Sciences, based in the Faculty of Management Science of the University Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.
Associate Editor – NASMET: Journal of Management Education and Training, published by the Nigerian Association of Schools of Management Education and Training’ (NASMET).
External Examiner – Industrial Relations and Organizational Behavior courses on the M. Sc Programmes at the Faculty of Management Sciences of the University of Lagos – 1985 to 1990; B. and MBA programmes of the School of Administration of the University of Ghana, Legion, Accra – 1994 to 1997; PhD Theses in organizational Behavior at Natal University, Durban, South Africa – 1998 – 2000, University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, and University of Port Harcourt – 2006.
Distinguished Guest Lecturer – Human Resource Management, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPS), Kuru, Jos – 21st February 1989,20th February 1990,19th February 1991, and 18th February 1992.
Distinguished Guest Lecturer – Philosophy of Social Science, and Research Methodology for Social and Administrative Studies, at the Nigerian War college-June 1992 and June 1993.
Prof. Augustine Ahiauzu was a house hold name in the academia and in the training of managers in Nigeria and across the globe. He played a pioneering role in the establishment of the Academy of Management Nigeria, where he is a Fellow, and the Pioneer Chairman of the Board of Trustees until his demise. He was awarded the Distinguished and Certified Administrator (DCA) Award by the Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria in 1988.
He was a member of a number of major international and local academic and professional associations including:
Member, Nigerian Industrial Relations Association – Since 1982
Member, Chattered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria – Since 1982
iii. Member, Association of Nigerian Industrial and Organizational Psychologist – Since 1984
Member, Industries Relations Association – Since 1984
Member, International Sociological Association – Since 1984
Member, Nigerian, Anthropological and Sociological Association – Since 1984
vii. Member, American Academy of Management – Since 1996
viii. Member, Nigerian Psychological Association – Since 1986
Fellow, Institute of Administration of Nigeria (FIAMN)
Fellow and President, African Academy Management – Since 1997
Member, International Academy of African Business and Development – Since 2000
xii. Fellow and Chairman, Board of Trustees, The Academy of Management Nigeria – Since 2002
xiii. Member, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (MIPM) – Since 2003
Prof. Ahiauzu’s academic contribution transcended the shores of Nigeria. He was a leading voice in shaping management thoughts in Africa. His classic book, the African Industrial Man made waves globally in management theorizing, as he demonstrated to the world, that there exists an African based management system, which he christened the ‘Type A’ Management Theory. He played a pioneering role in the establishment of the African Academy of Management, where he was a Fellow and also served as President from 1997 to 2015.Someofhis academic works include:
Published Books:
Ahiauzu, A. I., & Nwokoye, N. G. (1984). Introduction to Business Management. London: Macmillan.
Ahiauzu, A. I. (ED.) (1986). Management and Organization in Africa: International Studies of Management and Organization. New York: Sharp.
Ahiauzu, A. 1. (1989). Culture and Industrial Relations. James Currey Publisher.
Ahiauzu, A. I. (1991). Modern Business Organization in Nigeria. New York: Praeger.
Ahiauzu, A. I. (ED.). (1994). Culture and Management in Africa. Ibadan: Heinemann.
Ahiauzu, A. I, & Jaja, S. A. (Eds.) (1996). Contemporary Issues in Organizational Behavior and Theory. Port Harcourt: Hanging Gardens.
Ahiauzu, A. I. (1999). The African Industrial Man. Port Harcourt: CIMRAT Publications.
Ahiauzu, A. I. &Asawo, S. P. (2016). Advanced Social Research Methods. Port Harcourt: CIMRAT Publications.
As a researcher, Prof. Ahiauzu had his name to over one hundred journal publications, chapters in edited books, scholarly research monographs and academic conference papers presented in both local and international conferences. He successfully supervised 56 Masters degree and 42 doctorate degree research projects in the Management discipline at the Rivers State University, Calgary University Canada, Makarere University Kampala Uganda, and University of Dare -Salam Tanzania.
In 2015, after 28 years as an erudite Professor, Augustine Ikechuku Ahiauzu was decorated by the Rivers State University as an Emeritus Professor at a well-attended Convocation ceremony, the first of its kind in the history of the University. He continued to mentor and produce many academic children up until his demise, many of whom are professors and distinguished scholars today.
Professor Ahiauzu was an administrator par excellence and held several key positions in the University. Director Institute of Foundation Studies (1985-1987), Deputy Vice Chancellor (1987-1989), Acting Vice Chancellor (1989) and the first full two term Vice Chancellor of the Institution (1989-1996). Through these assignments he made indelible contributions to the physical and human capacity development of the university. He solved staff and students’ problems with a great sense of humaneness and so was loved by staff and students. He was highly detribalized and worked with both highly placed and the downtrodden. In all of these positions, he demonstrated a high sense of integrity and excellence. His outstanding performances at the helm of affairs at the Rivers State University were recognized by the host unity as he was bestowed with the chieftaincy title of OME WHOMA 1 OF NKPOLU- OROWORUKWO by the Nkpolu-Oroworukwo Community of the Rebisi Kingdom of Ikwerre land in 096l
Prof. Ahiauzu served Rivers State and the nation diligently through the following boards and committees:
Member, Rivers State Textbook Review Committee-October 1979 to December 1981.
Chairman, Management Board of the Modell Primary School of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt-July 1982 to December 1986.
Secretary to Council of Nigerian Association of Schools of Management Education and Training (NASMET) – March 1985 to April 1988.
Member of the Governing Council, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt – 1st June 1984 to 30th September 1996.
Chairman of Senate of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt – April 1989 to 30th September 1996.
Member of the 5-man Justice Kayode Eso Panel that mediated on the side of the Federal Government for the solution of the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in 1993.
Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian State Universities (CVCNSU) – April 1994 to September 1996.
Co-Chairman of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AV CNU) – June 1994 to September 1996.
Member of the Professor Umaru Shehu Panel, set up by the Federal Government to negotiate with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) toward the resolution of the industrial conflict in Nigerian Universities-April to June 1996.
Member of the Steering Committee of Niger Delta Environmental Survey (NDES) September 1996 to 2015.
Member of the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt – April 2000 to May 2004.
Chairman of the Management Board of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu – July 2005 to November 2008.
Chairman of the Governing Council of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, Nigeria – April 20 August 2012.
Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and Chief Electoral Commission of Rivers State – 24th October 2012-2015.
This was after he had been conferred with the Justice of the Peace recognition by the Rivers State Government in 1990.
Prof. Ahiauzu was the Founder and Executive Chairman of the International Centre for Management Research and Training (CIMRAT), Port Harcourt, an outfit that was incorporated by Guarantee in 1996. He served on several boards and committees in the University, as a chairman or a member. Through the center, he gave full expression to his desire to revolutionize management research and training in Nigeria, he provided consultancy and training services to both individuals and institutions in both the private and public sectors and was one of the research agencies that carried out large scale field studies and surveys leading to the development of the Niger Delta Development Master Plan.
Through his career, Prof. affiliated with several professional bodies and distinguished himself in these bodies. They include:
1) Fellow of the institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria (FIAMN) -1987.
2) Distinguished and certified Administrator’ Award by the Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria (DCA) – 1988.
3) Full membership status (MIPM) Of The Institute OF Personnel Management of Nigeria-2003.
CHRISTIAN LIFE
Augustine was brought up by Anglican parents and he later joined Christ Church Interdenominational in 1981. He remained an active member of the men’s league of the Church. He became a Knight of St. Christopher (KSC) of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in 1995 and served as the President of the Council of Knights both at the Diocese of the Delta North (1997-2005) and the Diocese of Ahoada (from 2005). He raised his family in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ as he prayed with family in daily morning devotions and encouraged his children to participate actively in church activities. He loved hymns and classical music and made listening to this genre of music as part of his daily routines even at work. He always talked about his flair for music and creative arts which he did not fully explore because of responsibilities.
Prof. Ahiauzu did not believe in celebrating himself or talking about his achievements. He always said that the truly great people do not need to announce themselves, their works announce them. Thus he declined several awards, particularly when they were for self-glorification. He enjoyed his privacy and had a penchant for routines. He could do the exact same thing every day, every year for several years. His children could easily predict his whereabouts and his engagements at any point in time. On days that he was going to do something outside his routine, he would talk about it during the family morning prayers.
His greatest passion was his books. He was never tired of buying books. He read anything and everything When he returns from a trip abroad, to the disappointment of family members, all the new boxes he comes with contains books. Even when there were security challenges in Omoku, the only thing Prof. went to rescue from his country home residence were his books. His account of the Nigerian civil war cannot end without him mentioning the books he lost. Prof. transferred his loved for books to all his children. He loved education and was prepared to educate the whole world, if he could.
Prof. Augustine Ikechuku Ahiauzu was a man of peace. He taught his children and students to be kind and courteous to people of all classes. He lived simply and owed nobody. Up until his demise, there was practically no form of security at his residence. His gate was never locked; his doors were always open. He often said, nobody has the intentions to harm him because he has not hurt anyone.
Prof. was a family man. He loved his wife, children and grandchildren dearly. He took his younger cousins, nieces and nephews as his own children. When he was not in the office he was at home. He will not eat a meal anywhere else but at home. Even when he travelled outside the country, he would call home every day and talk to every member of the family. He created a great partnership with his friend and wife, Dame Prof. Mrs Blessing Ahiauzu. As a team, they always spoke with one voice.
We thank God for a life well lived. His legacy will remain with us for many decades after now. We love you Daddy. Thank you for everything.
Prof. Augustine Ikechuku Ahiauzu bowed out to answer the call to greater service on Friday 19th February, 2021.
