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Biography:
Patience Akpan-Obong is an associate professor in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at Arizona State University, Polytechnic Campus. She holds a doctorate in political science (University of Alberta, 2003), a master’s degree in journalism (Carleton University, 1996) and a National Diploma in mass communication from The Polytechnic (now Cross River State University of Technology) in Calabar, Nigeria (1984). She researches the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in socioeconomic development. She is equally interested in the impact of science and technology on culture, women and technology, social change and ICTs, and processes of globalization in the context of developing countries. Her research in these areas is widely published. Publications include "Information and Communication Technologies in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges for Development" (New York: Peter D. Lang, 2009) as well as many peer-reviewed academic articles. She is also the author of "Letters to Nigeria: Journal of an African Woman in America" (2013). In the classroom, Akpan-Obong teaches courses in leadership and organizations, diversity in organizations, gender and race in organizations and innovation, technology and leadership especially in the context of developing countries.
Prior to becoming an academic, she practiced as a journalist for several years in Nigeria and Canada, and later became a regular contributor to Saturday Punch, a nationally circulated weekly newspaper based in Lagos, Nigeria (2007-15). A self-described "Global Citizen," Akpan-Obong, born in Nigeria, has dual citizenships in Canada and the United States, and has travelled to 15 countries on five continents. She believes that travel is perhaps the best educational tool ever "invented."
Education:
- Ph.D. Political Science (Comparative Politics of Developing Countries, International Relations and Gender and Politics), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada 2003. Dissertation: "Toward a Nigerian information society: Information and communication technologies as tools for socio-economic development – A case study.” Supervisor, Thomas Keating.
- M.J. Journalism (Print Journalism), Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada 1996. Master Research Project: "“Newspapers Through the Window: Creation of the Online Newspaper.” Advisor, Christopher Doran.
- National Diploma. Mass Communication, The Polytechnic (now Cross River State University of Technology), Calabar, Nigeria 1984
Google Scholar URL:
Research Interests:
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) in socioeconomic development and political participation/civic engagement; e-governance in emerging democracies; e-governance and good governance; science, technology and culture; women and technology; social change and ICTs; STS/STEM and gender; globalization and developing countries.
Publications:
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Alozie, Nicholas; Thomas, Kathy; & Akpan-Obong, Patience (2017). “Global liberalization on homosexuality: Explaining the African Gap.” The Social Science Journal. Volume 54, Issue 2, June 2017, pp. 120–131.
Alozie, Nicholas, Kathy Thomas, & Akpan-Obong, Patience (2016). “Mass Support for Democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Quest for Sustainable Development. International Journal of Economic Development. Volume 10, Number 1, pp. 32-66.
Alozie, Nicholas and Akpan-Obong, Patience (2016). “The Digital Gender Divide: Confronting Obstacles to Women’s Development in Africa." Development Policy Review. Volume 35, Issue 2, pp. 137–160.
Tabuwa, M. E., Muluh, H.Z., Tanjong, E., Akpan-Obong, P. et al (2013). “Gendering Technologies: Women in Cameroon’s Pink-Collar ICT Work.” International Journal of Management & Information Systems, Vol. 17 (4), 213-222
Alozie, Nicholas O., Patience Akpan-Obong, & William A. Foster (2011). “Sizing Up Information and Communication Technologies as Agents of Political Development in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Forthcoming in Telecommunications Policy, Vol. 35, No. 8: 752-763.
Akpan-Obong, Patience (2010). “Unintended Outcomes in Information and Communication Technology Adoption: A Micro-level Analysis of Usage in Context.” Journal of Asian and African Studies, Vol. 45, No. 2: 181-195.
Akpan-Obong, Patience, Carlos A. Thomas, Kibily D. Samake, Moses Niwe, & Victor W. Mbarika (2009). “An African Pioneer Comes of Age: Evolution of Information and Communication Technologies in Uganda.” Journal of Information, Information Technology, and Organizations, Vol. 4: 147-171.
Akpan-Obong, Patience & Mary Jane Parmentier (2009). "Linkages and Connections: A Framework for Research in Information and Communication Technologies, Regional Integration and Development." Review of Policy Research, Vol. 26, No. 3: 289-309.
Akpan-Obong, Patience (2008). “Discourse as Practice in Nigeria's IT industry – A research in progress.” Information Technology for Development, Vol. 14, No. 4: 328-332.
Akpan-Obong, Patience (2003). “Basic-needs to globalization: Are ICTs the missing link?” Information Technology for Development, Vol. 10, No. 23: 261-274.
Akpan, Patience (2000). “Africa in the age of a global network society: The challenges ahead.” African Studies Quarterly, Vol. 4, No.1: 1-16.
Books
Akpan-Obong, Patience (2017). Six Years of E-governance in Edo State, Nigeria: Study of the Edo State Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), 2009-2015. Ogun State, Nigeria: Covenant University Press. Forthcoming. 109 pages. ISBN-978-978-954-500-1
Akpan-Obong, Patience; Ayo, Charles K., & Adebiyi, Ayodele, editors (2017). Issues and Concepts of E-governance in Nigeria – A Reader. Ogun State, Nigeria: Covenant University Press. Forthcoming. 305 pages. ISBN: 978-978-954-501-8
Akpan-Obong, Patience & Alozie, Nicholas O. (2016). Information Technologies in the Nigerian Public Sector: E-Governance Practice in Federal Government Institutions in Abuja. Ogun State, Nigeria: Covenant University Press. Forthcoming. 180 pages. ISBN: 978-978-955-072-2
Akpan-Obong, Patience (2013). Letters to Nigeria: Journal of an African Woman in America. Charleston, S.C.: CreateSpace. 330 pages. ISBN: 978-1482608700
Akpan-Obong, Patience (2009). Information and Communication Technologies in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges for Development. New York: Peter D. Lang Publishing, Inc. 225 pages. 978-1433103100
Peer-Reviewed Chapters in Edited Volumes
Akpan-Obong, Patience Idaraesit & Alozie, Nicholas O. (2017). “ICTs and Administrative Processes as Measure of Willingness to Integrate Technology in Nigeria’s Electoral Practices” in Akpan-Obong, Patience; Ayo, Charles K.; & Adebiyi, Ayodele, editors (2017). Issues and Concepts of E-governance in Nigeria – A Reader. Ogun State, Nigeria: Covenant University Press.
Akpan-Obong, Patience & Parmentier, Mary Jane (2013). “Hash Tags, Status Updates and Revolutions: A Comparative Analysis of Social Networking in Political Mobilization” in Tu, Xin & White Ann Marie, Lu, Naiji, eds., Social Networking: Recent Trends, Emerging Issues and Future Outlook. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Akpan-Obong, Patience & Parmentier, Mary Jane (2010). "Coordination, Convergence or Contradictions: Information and Communication Technologies for Integration and Development in Southern Africa and the Southern Cone” in Fu, Xiaolan & Soete, Luc, eds., The Rise of Technological Power in the South. London, UK: Palgrave-Macmillan, pages 300-319.
Akpan-Obong, Patience (2006). “Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) and African Development” in Smith, Malinda S., ed., Beyond the African Tragedy: Discourses on Development and the Global Economy. London, UK: Ashgate Publishers, pages 247-268.
Akpan-Obong, Patience (2004). “From the margins to the center: Information and communication technologies as tools for development” in Kalu, Kelechi Amihe, ed., Agenda Setting and Public Policy in Africa. London, UK: Ashgate Publishers, pages 115-150.
Research Activity:
Research Projects (In-progress)
Akpan-Obong, Patience “‘Only Hard Copies Accepted Here:’ E-governance and the Nigerian Public Sector”
Akpan-Obong, Patience “Status of Government Websites as Determinant of Capacity to Deliver Good Governance – a Nigeria Case Study.”
Akpan-Obong, Patience. “Variations in ICT Diffusion in Sub-Saharan African Countries.”
Akpan-Obong, Patience. “’What’s a married woman doing on Facebook?’ Gender, Cultural Narratives and Social Networking in sub-Saharan Africa.”
| Spring 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| OGL 365 | Organizational Contexts |
| OGL 540 | Evidence Based Inquiry |
| Fall 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| OGL 365 | Organizational Contexts |
| OGL 540 | Evidence Based Inquiry |
| Summer 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| OGL 350 | Diversity and Organizations |
| OGL 365 | Organizational Contexts |
| Spring 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| OGL 365 | Organizational Contexts |
| Fall 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| OGL 365 | Organizational Contexts |
| Summer 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| OGL 350 | Diversity and Organizations |
| Spring 2019 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| OGL 350 | Diversity and Organizations |
| Fall 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| OGL 350 | Diversity and Organizations |
| Summer 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| OGL 200 | Intro to Org Leadership |
| Spring 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| STS 329 | Tech in Developing Countries |
| SOC 352 | Social Change |
| Fall 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| STS 332 | Global Issues in Science &Tech |
| SOC 352 | Social Change |
| Summer 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| STS 330 | Info Tech and Globalization |
| SOC 352 | Social Change |
| Fall 2016 | |
|---|---|
| Course Number | Course Title |
| STS 330 | Info Tech and Globalization |
| SOC 352 | Social Change |
Honors / Awards:
Recent Awards and Research Grants
Fulbright US Scholar Award, 2015/2016 (Host country, Nigeria; Host university, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State)
Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency E-government Research Grant, 2014
Editorships:
Section Editor – African Journal of Information Studies (IT in Government and Conflict Resolution).
Editorial Board Member – African Social Science Review
Journal of Information Technology and Development
Grant Reviewer – National Science Center, Poland
Conference facilitator – Covenant University Conference on E-government in Nigeria, Ota, Nigeria, 2014 – 2017. Faculty Fellow – International Center for Technology and Development, Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA.
Service:
Service to the University
- Campus Representative, Faculty Women of Color Caucus, Arizona State University
- Chair of 2 Hiring Committees, Social Science Faculty, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, 2017
- Member of 3 Hiring Committees, Social Science Faculty, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, 2017
- Member, College Personnel Committee, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, 2016
- Member, Dean Search Committee, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, 2014
- Member, University Senate Governance and Grievance Committee, 2013
- Member – Provost's Working Group on University Undergraduate General Studies Requirements at Arizona State University, 2013
- Member – Faculty Coordinating Committee for Women and Gender Studies (university-wide committee).
- Women’s History Month at the ASU Polytechnic Campus, Member (2007 - Present)
Service to the Profession:
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Invited Guest Speaker, E-Nigeria Conference in Abuja, Nigeria, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. 2017
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Member, Implementation Committee of the ICT University of Nigeria, 2017
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Facilitator/Organizer of the Covenant University Conference on E-governance in Nigeria, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
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Invited Guest Speaker, Nigerian Computer Society of Nigeria, 2013
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Section Editor – African Journal of Information Studies (IT in Government and Conflict Resolution).
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Editorial Board Member – African Social Science Review
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Reviewer -- Journal of Information Technology and Development