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Mr. Mathias Isiani | History | Best Researcher Award

PhD Student at University of Pennsylvania, United States

Mr. Mathias Isiani is a dedicated and accomplished scholar with a robust background in Africana Studies and History. Currently, he is pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Africana Studies. He holds a Master’s degree with distinction from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where he conducted in-depth research on the Igbariam Farm Settlement in Eastern Nigeria. His academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he studied the development of trade and markets in Igboland. Mr. Isiani’s research interests lie in exploring socio-economic and political dynamics within historical contexts, particularly focusing on conflicts, trade development, and farm settlements in Nigeria. His work has been supported by prestigious grants and fellowships, including the Benjamin Franklin Fellowship Award and various conference grants from the University of Pennsylvania. He has also held teaching positions as a Teaching Assistant and Lecturer, demonstrating his commitment to education and knowledge dissemination.

Professional Profiles:

📚 Education:

Mr. Mathias Isiani is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, where his academic journey began in 2022. His research committee includes Professor Wale Adebanwi as his advisor, with Professor David Amponsah as the co-advisor and Professor Paul Obi-Ani as a committee member. In May 2021, Mr. Isiani completed his MA at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria, achieving a distinction with a GPA of 4.93 out of 5.0. His thesis, titled “Igbariam Farm Settlement in Eastern Nigeria, 1961 – 1973,” was supervised by Professor Uche Augustine Igwe. Mr. Isiani earned his BA from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in July 2015, graduating with a second-class upper division. His undergraduate thesis, “Development of Trade and Markets in Igboland: A Study of the Aho-Opi Market,” was guided by Dr. Ngozika Anthonia Obi-Ani.

Professional Experience:

Mr. Mathias Isiani currently holds several positions. Since 2023, he has been serving as a Graduate Fellow at the Summer Institute for First Years at the Center for Africana Studies, University of Pennsylvania, United States. Concurrently, he is a Graduate Resident Advisor at Harrison College House, University of Pennsylvania, also starting in 2023. He has been a Ph.D. student in the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania since 2022. Additionally, since August 2017, Mr. Isiani has been a Faculty Fellow in the Department of History and International Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Teaching Experience:

Mr. Mathias Isiani has held various teaching positions throughout his academic career. Since 2024, he has been a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, United States, under the instruction of Professor Jasmine Johnson. In this role, he teaches a mid-term undergraduate course, AFRC1001-001: Introduction to Africana Studies, and grades examination scripts. From 2023 to 2024, he served as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, instructed by Professor David Kofi Amponsah. During this period, he taught the undergraduate course AFRC/ANTH 1002-401: Introduction to Africa and graded examination scripts. Since 2022, Mr. Isiani has been a Lecturer II in the Department of History and International Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He has taught a range of undergraduate courses, including HIS 221: Southern Africa since 1400, HIS 206: Political Thought, HIS 101: Introduction to History, HIS 411: Nigeria since 1960, and HIS 408: International/Continental Organisation. He has also supervised undergraduate project reports and graded examination scripts. Prior to this, he was an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from 2021 to 2022. In this role, he taught undergraduate courses such as HIS 221: Southern Africa since 1400, HIS 206: Political Thought, HIS 226: African Women in History, HIS 411: Nigeria since 1960, HIS 311: Nigeria 1900-1960, and HIS 408: International/Continental Organisation. He also designed the departmental course timetable, supervised undergraduate project reports, served as the departmental ICT representative for uploading final student results, and graded examination scripts.

Research Interest:

Mr. Mathias Isiani has extensive research experience, starting with his role as a graduate student at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria, from 2017 to 2021. His research, titled “The Forgotten Treasure in the Midst of Wants: The Igbariam Farm Settlement, 1961 – 1979,” was supervised by Professor Uche Augustine Igwe. In this role, he designed a qualitative methodology for the research, structured fieldwork interviews, and documented archival materials. His investigation focused on the conflict between settlers and the government regarding land disputes, highlighting the socio-economic and political dynamics of the Igbariam Farm Settlement during that period. In addition to his graduate research, Mr. Isiani served as a Research Assistant at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria, from 2020 to 2021, under the guidance of Professor C.C.C. Osakwe. In this capacity, he conducted interviews with Nigerian Civil War Veterans, documenting and transcribing local languages into English. His work involved engaging with government reports on the Nigerian Civil War, contributing to a deeper understanding of the war’s historical context and its impact on Nigeria. Through these experiences, Mr. Isiani has developed strong research skills and a comprehensive understanding of historical and socio-political issues in Nigeria.

Honors:

Mr. Mathias Isiani has been the recipient of various grants, honors, and fellowships throughout his academic career, reflecting his dedication and contributions to his field. He was awarded the Department of Africana Studies, University of Pennsylvania 2024 Conference Grant, providing $500 to support conference attendance and participation. He also received the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Fellowship Award from the University of Pennsylvania, valued at $425,000, recognizing his academic excellence and potential. In 2023, he received another $500 grant from the Department of Africana Studies for conference-related expenses, along with a $500 Conference Grant from the School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Professor Wale Adebanwi provided him with $2,000 in travel support for academic purposes to Germany. The Enugu State Scholarship Board awarded him a $2,000 Logistics US Grant to support logistical needs for his studies in the United States. From 2017 to 2019, he was a recipient of the NEEDS Assessment Grant for his Master of Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, amounting to $1,000 to support his Master’s research and studies. Furthermore, he received a $1,000 research grant from the Department of History and War Studies to conduct research on the Nigerian Civil War, marking the 50th anniversary of the conflict.

 

📚Publications :

Title: The City of Boys: An ethnographic survey into the experiences of apprentices and urbanization of Onitsha City, Nigeria

Authors: Isiani, M.C., Isiani, L.A., Obi-Ani, N.A., Obi-Ani, P., Isiani, O.J.

Journal: Cities

Year: 2024

Citations: 0

Title: Not all deities were transformed in Igboland: a cultural history of the Api-Opi deity

Authors: Isiani, M.C., Onyemechalu, S.J., Osinem, S.C., Dimelu, S.A., Obi-Ani, N.A.

Journal: Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development

Year: 2024

Citations: 1

Title: Creativity, spirituality and society: a study in preservation of Ikenga and Ọfọ sculptures in contemporary Igbo society

Authors: Isiani, M.C., Obi-Ani, N.A., Akabuike, C.C., Okafor, S.P., Dimelu, S.A.

Journal: Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development

Year: 2023

Citations: 1

Title: The reggae artistes and the marijuana legalization struggle: The bob marley example

Authors: Ekwueme, O., Ezeugwu, F., Obi-Ani, N.A., Ezeaku, O.D., Ukwueze, C.C.

Journal: Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research

Year: 2023

Citations: 0

Title: “No religion is superior”: history, culture, politics and heritage preservations of Ogwugwu Mmiri deity

Authors: Isiani, M.C., Chukwudebelu, B., Onyishi, U.

Journal: Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development

Year: 2023

Citations: 0

Title: “Presumed urbanization”: The experiences of Onitsha city slums dwellers

Authors: Isiani, M.C., Obi-Ani, N.A., Obi-Ani, P.

Journal: Cities

Year: 2021

Citations: 2

Title: Interrogating the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Policies in Nigeria, 1986–2018

Authors: Isiani, M.C., Anthonia Obi-Ani, N., Obi-Ani, P., Chidume, C.G., Okoye-Ugwu, S.

Journal: Cogent Arts and Humanities

Year: 2021

Citations: 0

Title: Socio-Economic Transformations in Nigeria: The Role of Church Missionary Society (CMS) Schools and Social Stigmatization in Onitsha Province, 1904–1975

Authors: Isiani, M.C., Okonkwo, U.U., Anthonia Obi-Ani, N.

Journal: Cogent Arts and Humanities

Year: 2021

Citations: 0

Title: Covid-19 pandemic and The Nigerian primary healthcare system: The leadership question

Authors: Anthonia Obi-Ani, N., Ezeaku, D.O., Ikem, O., Obi-Ani, P., Janefrances Chisolum, O.

Journal: Cogent Arts and Humanities

Year: 2021

Citations: 6

Title: Urbanization in Nigeria: The Onitsha experience

Authors: Obi-Ani, N.A., Isiani, M.C.

Journal: Cities

Year: 2020

Citations: 19

 

Mathias Isiani | History | Best Researcher Award

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