Department of English and Literary Studies

Department of English and Literary Studies

Professor Gloria Eme Worugji

Head of Department

ENGLISH AND LITERARY STUDIES

The Department came into existence in 2018. It was established to train students to acquire adequate communicative competence in both the spoken and written varieties of the English language, thereby giving them a good grounding and effective mastery of the language in its various applications to achieve adequate self-expression and self-actualization.

PROFILE OF THE HOD

Professor Gloria Eme Worugji is a distinguished scholar and academic leader in the fields of African literature and Gender studies. Currently serving as Professor of African Literature(Gender Studies and Culture) and Head of the Department of English and Literary Studies at Rivers State University.

She holds a BA degree from the University of Port-Harcourt, MPA, MA, PhD, & PGDE from the University of Calabar.

Her academic journey is marked by an unwavering commitment to excellence, growth, and service to humanity through scholarship.

With a PhD in African Literature and esteemed years of experience at the University of Calabar, Professor Worugji has established herself as a leading voice in her field.

Her research interests lie at the intersection of African literature, drama, gender studies and culture, and her work has opened up urgent conversations on representation, identity, and justice.

As a scholar and mentor, Professor Worugji has consistently used her voice to produce critical scholarship that empowers others to find and express their own.

Her mentorship has fostered academic excellence grounded in empathy and vision, inspiring generations of thinkers, creators, and educators.

Through her scholarship and leadership, Professor Worugji has served humanity with dedication and passion, shaping the academic landscape with her vision, expertise, and commitment to excellence.

As a dedicated academic leader, she continues to inspire others, colleagues and students alike to pursue their academic and professional goals with purpose and integrity.

Staff list in the Department

Name | Rank | Area Of Specialization | Email Prof. Gloria Eme Worugji | Professor/HOD | African Literature (Gender Studies and Culture) | [email protected] Prof. Barine Saana Ngaage | Professor | African Literature (Oral Literature) | [email protected] Prof. Isaac Eyi Ngulube | Professor | Language (English Linguistics) | [email protected] Dr. Adagogo C. Brown | Reader | African Literature (Literary Narrative/Gender Studies) | [email protected] Dr. Ben-Fred Ohia | Reader | African Literature (Oral Literature) | [email protected] Dr. Florence Nne Agwu | Senior Lecturer | Language (Morphology and Syntax) | [email protected] Dr. Ogbuagu, Ndubuisi Davidson | Senior Lecturer | African Literature (Prose) | [email protected] Dr. Bobo Agava | Lecturer I | African Literature (Fiction) | [email protected] Dr. Naomi Chizunem Chimene-Wali | Lecturer I | Language (Socio-linguistics) | [email protected] Dr. Queen Albert | Lecturer I | African Literature (Diasporic Literature) | [email protected] Dr. Okachukwu Onuah Wosu | Lecturer I | African Literature (Literary Theory & Criticism) | [email protected] Dr. Ohagwam, Uchenna Jonathan | Lecturer I | African Literature (Literary Theory) | [email protected] Dr. Daniel Henacho Eluke | Lecturer I | Language (Semiotics) | [email protected] Dr. Bara Lambert Obudikianga | Lecturer I | Language (Morphology and Syntax) | [email protected] Dr. Victoria Otonna Macaulay | Lecturer I | Language (Socio-linguistics) | [email protected] Dr. Atamunobarabinye Jonathan Titus-Green | Lecturer I | African Literature (Tradition & Culture) | [email protected] Dr. Tamunoiyowuna Andrew-Jaja | Lecturer I | African Literature (Drama) | [email protected] Dr. Chukwuemeka Nwokoji | Lecturer I | Language (English Morphology) | [email protected] Mr. Ndubuisi Nwaonyeocha | Lecturer I | Language (Socio-linguistics) | [email protected] Mr. Ogurinka Grant Woruka | Lecturer II | Language (Morphology and Syntax) | [email protected] Mr. Iwe Osinachi Samuel Wokoma | Lecturer II | Language (Syntax) | [email protected] Mrs. Zabbey, Fashion Giobari | Lecturer II | Language (Morphology and Syntax) | [email protected] Mr. Amadi Gabriel Ndamzi | Assistant Lecturer | Language (Discourse Analysis /Pragmatics) | [email protected] Mrs. Tasie Chimekwa Constance | Graduate Assistant | Language (Discourse Analysis /Pragmatics) | [email protected] Dr. Cotterell Rise Evans | Pro bono Staff | Language (Morphology and Pragmatics) | [email protected] Mrs. P. C. Oguzie | Administrative Officer I | Social Studies | [email protected] Mr. W. Thompson | Administrative Officer I | Accounting | [email protected] Miss Lebari Ruth .M. | Casual Staff | Accounting | [email protected]

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic Duties

To develop the curriculum of the academic programmes for each session in all the courses to be offered in the Department. Teach the students the required courses for the programme. Guide the students on choice of courses to be offer and give advice on the requirements for the degree programme. Teach them how to carry out good research and also supervise them in their graduating project. Encourage them to do a good research that could be published in any academic outlet. Organise academic outreaches for them to meet with fellow students from other universities.

Social Responsibility

To provide high level of mentorship in various aspects of social life within and outside the campus. Assign academic advisers to each of the students. Prepare them for debate and other extra-curricular activities within and outside the campus to form a rounded student.

Job opportunity

Orient students towards self-employment by a focus on skills such as writing (e.g. of articles in magazines, of speeches, designing and presenting special programs on radio or TV, designing and publishing magazines, etc), creative writing and other kinds of original output through the Independent thought, investiveness and creativity.

STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Department is structured into two options, the Language option and the Literature option.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE DEPARTMENT

The main goal of the Department of English language is to provide a high level of proficiency for graduates of English, and generates ample competence and skills of communication. Great attention is devoted to the achievement of improved knowledge of English and the acquisition of adequate skills in speaking and writing in the language facilitating in English graduates adequate proficiency in pronunciation, articulateness in speech, correctness of grammar and usage with elegance and style in diction in the chosen variety of English for use in the various administrative and professional job opportunities available in the labour market, in literary and creative writing domains, and in postgraduate studies in language and literature.

OBJECTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENTS

To equip the students with the knowledge of the forms and features of the varieties of English used in different professional domains such as business communication, legal communication, electronic broadcast media, print journalism, advertising and sports commentaries, book publishing, and biography writing;

To empower the students with adequate linguistic knowledge of the English language through a detailed study of its sound system, lexicon, syntax, semantics, and its usage;

To adequately prepare the students to pursue postgraduate studies in English language, linguistics, and to take up teaching and research at the appropriate level of education;

To enable students to overcome deficiencies in their English usage; and

To instil in students the skills of critical thinking, scholarly rigour, and effective writing.