Publications

Explore our latest research, historical insights, and scholarly contributions to the field of Nigerian history, biography, documentation and legacy.

Published May 12, 2026

Call for Submissions

The Institute for Historical Studies, Biographical Research, Documentation, and Legacy (IHS-BiRD & L) invites original research papers, historical essays, biographical studies, book reviews, and other scholarly works for publication. All submissions undergo editorial review for accuracy, verifiability, originality, and scholarly merit. Submit manuscripts to editorial@ihsbirdl.org.ng.

by IHS-BiRD & L

Published Aug 02, 2026

Yakubu Gowon: The Burden of Holding Nigeria Together

The Soldier Who Led Nigeria Through Its Greatest Crisis

Yakubu Gowon assumed power at thirty-one as Nigeria descended into crisis and went on to lead the country through civil war, state creation and the oil boom. This biography examines the man behind the uniform, the decisions that preserved the federation, the immense human cost of that victory, and the enduring legacy of one of Nigeria's most consequential and contested leaders.

by IHS-BiRD & L

Published Jul 10, 2026

Olu Arowolo Verheijen: Finance, Energy and the Making of Public Policy

A Biography of Investment, Energy and National Reform

From international finance to the Nigerian Presidency, Olu Arowolo Verheijen's career spans global finance, the energy industry, renewable energy investment and public service. This biography traces that journey while exploring the ideas that have shaped her approach to energy policy and economic development.

by IHS-BiRD & L

Published Jun 01, 2026

Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi and the Library Beyond the Walls

A Life in Librarianship, Digital Transformation and the Preservation of Nigeria’s National Memory

Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi entered librarianship almost by accident and rose to become the custodian of Nigeria’s published memory. From university libraries to the National Library of Nigeria, her career has unfolded alongside a profound transformation; one in which books met technology, shelves became digital repositories, and the boundaries of the library began to disappear.

by IHS-BiRD & L

Published Feb 03, 2026

Building Enterprise Across Markets: A History of Juwon Lawal’s Transnational Business Activities, 2005–2025.

Is Operating Across Markets Productive?

From palm-kernel processing in Kogi State to energy and maritime businesses in international markets, Juwon Lawal’s career has spanned industries and borders. This biography traces two decades of diversification and asks the harder question: does building across industries and borders actually produce lasting economic value?

by IHS-BiRD & L

Published Oct 01, 2025

Dora Nkem Akunyili: A Biography of Public Reform

One Woman's Campaign Against Counterfeit Medicines and Institutional Failure

Dora Akunyili transformed Nigeria's fight against counterfeit medicines and became one of the country's most recognisable public servants. Drawing on extensive research from government records, academic studies, court documents, interviews and contemporary reporting, this biography examines her life, reforms, political career, controversies and enduring legacy with historical balance and critical analysis.

by IHS-BiRD & L

Published Jun 25, 2025

Iyorwuese Hagher: Theatre, Leadership and the Making of a Public Intellectual

Scholar, Playwright, Statesman and the Pursuit of Leadership

Scholar. Playwright. Senator. Diplomat. Iyorwuese Hagher's career crossed academia, politics and literature, but a single question united them all: what makes societies flourish? This biography explores the life of a public intellectual whose work sought to connect culture, governance and ethical leadership in Nigeria and across Africa.

by IHS-BiRD & L

Published May 12, 2025

Digitising the Digi-prived

Confronting Digital Erasure and Reclaiming Africa’s Place in Global Knowledge Before Algorithms Define It

I founded the Institute for Historical Studies, Biographical Research, Documentation, and Legacy (IHS-BiRD & L) to address the systemic digital exclusion of Nigerian history. Over the course of approximately fifteen years of active contributions to digital knowledge platforms, I have witnessed a persistent underrepresentation of African narratives, leaving our stories at risk of erasure in the global knowledge space.

by IHS-BiRD & L

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