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Professor Sunday Enessi Ododo trained at the Universities of Ilorin and Ibadan with BA (Hons) Performing Arts, (Ilorin, 1986) MA Theatre Arts (Ibadan, 1988), PhD Performing Arts (Ilorin, 2004). He is the foundation Head of Department of Theatre Arts, University of Maiduguri and was a Sub Dean of Arts, University of Ilorin. Ododo’s scholarly career, spanning over 30 years, has been dedicated to teaching, researching and publishing rigorous works on the aesthetics of the performing arts and theatre practice; design and indigenous culture in Nigeria.
He theorized the Facekuerade Theatre hinged on the transformational duality, gender ambiguity and iconic paradox in indigenous Ebira Ekuechi performances. Ododo has also served as the President of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA) for two terms with many intensifying innovations to his credit. A feat he continues in the National Theatre turning around the fortune of almost moribund agency. The key focus of his administration as the General Manager has been to redirect attention to the other core mandate of the agency other than commercial concern.
He therefore succeeded to showcase the distinction between the National Theatre, the Edifice and the National Theatre, the Parastatal with quantum gains. This award-winning playwright holds eight prestigious fellowships amongst other forty notable awards.
Professor Ododo was named and listed in Time Africa’s Who’s Who in Africa, 2023/2024.
With the ongoing massive restoration and rehabilitation of the National Theatre edifice, when completed, Ododo is confident that the theatre will bubble with activities again more than ever before.
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Social Activities
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Membership
SONTA, NAL, ANA, IFTR-London, Research Board of Advisors of the American Biographical Institute, North Carolina, USA...
Academics/Books
Some of the many outstanding literary works and books of prof
Awards
Prof Sunday E. Ododo has remained humble despite these numerous and elating awards
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Positions Occupied so far
Prof's Brief
Climbing the ladder
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The Theatre Icon
Prof. Sunday Enessi Ododo, fsonta, fta, fsna, fana, fnipr, faan,fcsra, FNAL, the General Manager/CEO of the National Theatre, is a Professor of Performance Aesthetics and Theatre Technology having come from the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. The robustness of Ododo’s scholarship is not only reflected in his deep-seated but humble and convivial nature, but also in the rich quantity and engaging nature of his research and publications.
Apart from being a theatre scholar, screenwriter, actor, poet and technical theatre practitioner in his highly fecund career of about two decades, he is reputed to be the exponent of the Facekuerade theory in African Theatre Arts Studies. Beyond these, Ododo is a distinguished and versatile creative artist who has made modest contributions to the growth of literature and creative writing in Nigeria through his activities in the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) where he has served as Chief Judge of literary prizes and national Vice President. He also currently serves as second the Vice President of the Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA).
For nearly two decades, this erstwhile Head of Department and Sub-Dean of Arts at the University of Ilorin, has been the arrow head of celebrating the literary and theatrical achievements of notable Nigerian writers and theatre practitioners like J.P. Clark-Bekederemo, Olu Obafemi, Duro Oni, among others. Through these and other publishing outlets, Sunnie Ododo has given numerous young scholars the opportunities to grow, and the established ones platforms to further project themselves and assert their relevance. It is from this standpoint that he remains a valued and respected icon in literary and theatre circles. Now, the moment has also come to celebrate him.
Born 21st October 1962, in Maiduguri, North-east Nigeria, Ododo celebrated fiftieth 21st October, 2012. The celebrations of the fiftieth birthday of this intellectual colossus and humane gentleman, was marked with a public presentation; "festschrift" put together in his honour. Theatre, performance and literary scholars, practitioners and researchers were invited to contribute articles for the proposed book. Consequently, the editors welcome essays from interested contributors