Nigerian Pastor and Army Veteran Graduates with PhD

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Pastor Kester Onor of Nigeria received his PhD in Social Sciences for research he did on the United States African Command and Human Security in Africa.

Onor’s work explored the promise, prospects and challenges of USAFRICOM for human security in Africa from a critical and empirical perspective.

 The study critically assesses the military-driven and state-centric security approach of USAFRICOM in addressing the human insecurity challenges facing the African continent.

Onor’s research work will help the understanding of central issues that drive not only important aspects of global security dynamics but also the peculiarities of its African subsets, especially with regard to regional human security.

He decided to major in Peace, Security and Development on the basis of his experiences in Liberia and Sierra Leone when he served with the ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force. He also served in the Nigerian Army in various capacities for 17 years.

‘Being exposed to international conflict, I discovered that the crises of human security in Africa can be ameliorated by good governance and development and I resolved to go back to university to complete my studies to pioneer a revolution in human security and development scholarship in Africa.’

Selecting UKZN to do his PhD after receiving a scholarship, he believes that a degree from the University will give his education an international perspective and a better academic standing.

He is grateful to his supervisors Dr Alison Jones and Dr Sadiki Maeresera and his mentor and father-figure, Professor Ufo Okeke Uzodike.

‘As a security scholar, I plan on peace advocacy and creating awareness through scholarly writings.  I may gravitate away from the classroom and into politics in Nigeria and to one day open an NGO that advocates for peace and operates as a charitable organisation.’

Melissa Mungroo