Dr. Mabel Ugochi Okpara

ACTING HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

Dr. Mabel Ugochi Okpara hails from Ezeoke-Nsu in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State. She was born in Kaduna on 30h April, 1959. Her late father was a Reverend gentleman of the Anglican Communion and her late mother, a trader.

As a result of the Nigerian/Biafran war outbreak in 1967, her parents relocated to our State of origin, the then East Central State of Nigeria. As a result of her father’s transfers to several Anglican Churches as a Reverend, Dr. Mabel Okpara pursued her primary Education in different schools but came out in flying colours in 1972 at Central School, Nkwerre in the current Imo State, Nigeria.

Thereafter she proceeded to St. Catharine’s Girls’ Secondary School, Nkwerre in 1973 where she settled as a Boarding student and completed there in flying colours in 1977. She had her Nigeria Certificate in Education (N.C.E) in 1985 to Music Education and Bachelor of Arts, in music/Education in 1991 and came out in successfully as the best graduating student in both Tertiary institutions. She concluded her academic pursuits in Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka in 2013/2014 and 2016/2017 academic sessions respectively. She also has a Master of Education (MED) in Educational Technology, from the Awka centre of the National Open University of Nigeria in 2016.

She worked under the Federal Government, Ministry of Education and was posted to Federal College Port Harcourt and other Colleges thereafter as a music teacher beginning with her NCE in 1987 and rose to the level of Assistant Director of Education (ADE) in 2014, as Head of music Department, Head of Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA) and Head of Humanities Department. She also served as a Management staff by her elevation as an ADE.

Dr. Mabel U. Okpara joined the services of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI) on the 12th of September, 2018 as a Lecturer II in the Music Unit of the Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) /Music Department.  In December, 2018, she was made the head of the Music Unit of the FAA/Music Department. And at present she is the pioneer Acting Head of the Music Department (HOD) following the demerging of the two programmes; Fine Arts and Music. The appointment as the HOD, Music took effect from 1st of September, 2019.

Dr. Mabel Okpara is married and blessed with a daughter. Her hobbies include dancing, jogging, reading and writing. She is a Christian who loves and fears God by virtue of her upbringing as a Reverend’s daughter as well as her personal relationship with God and a personal decision.

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED WITH DATES:

  • Central School, Nkwerre, Imo State             1967-1972
  • Catharine’s Girls’ Secondary School Nkwerre             1973-1977
  • Anambra State College of Education, Awka             1982-1985
  • University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) 1988-1991
  • Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (Unizik)             2012-2014
  • National open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Awka Centre 2014-2016
  • Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Umizik), Awka 2014-2017

QUALIFICATIONS OBTAINED WITH DATES:

  1. First School leaving Certificate 1972
  2. West African School Certificate/GCE 1977/1981
  3. National Certificate in Education (NCE) 1985
  4. Bachelor of Arts (BA ed)Music 1991
  5. Master of Arts (MA) Music Theory Composition 2014
  6. Master of Education (MED) Educational Technology 2016
  7. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Music Theory Composition 2017

WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Federal Government College, Port-Harcourt 1981-2006 Music Teacher
  • Federal Government Girls’ College, Abuloma, PH 2006-2012 Music Teacher
  • Federal Government College, Okigwe, Imo State 2012 to August, 2018 (Assistant Director of Education Grade Level 15.
  • Management Staff &Head of Department of Humanities)
  • AE-FUNAI: Joined the services of AE FUNAI on12th September, 2018 as Lecturer
  • Head of Music Unit, AE FUNAI (from December 2018 to August, 31st 2019)
  • Pioneer Acting Head of Music Department AE FUNAI ( 1st September, 2019 to Date)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS/AWARDS

  • Chief Examiner: National Examinations Council ( NECO) Music Practical for Rivers State since 2008-Date
  • Church Organist: St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Nkpogu, PH 2000-2006
  • Music Director/Organist: Peace Child Club 2001-2006
  • PRO Music Teachers’ Association of Nigeria {MUTAN} 2007-2010
  • Best Graduating Music Student: Anambra State College of Educ., Awka, 1985
  • Best Behaved Female Student College of Education Awka, 1985 set
  • Best Graduating Music Student UNN (1991)
  • The only Female Graduating Student in Music Theory & Composition Unizik 2012 MA
  • The only Graduating Student in PhD in Music Theory and Composition 2014 set
  • Member: Association of Nigerian Musicologists {ANIM}
  • Member: Music Educators of Nigeria
  • Competitions Won with laurels:

{a} Secondary Schools’ Music Competition organized by Cultural Centre PH (2007, my School FGGC, PH, 1st Position.

{b}Secondary Schools’ Music Competition organized by Rotary Club of Nigeria PH Chapter. On; “Say No to AIDs”, my School FGGC Abuloma First position.

(c) Shell Music Competition for Secondary Schools, my school, FGC, PH, 3rd position

  • Pioneer Music Students of AE-FUNAI: Graduated in 2019 during my Tenure as HoD. (Music)
  • Pioneer HoD (Music): AE-FUNAI (September 1, 2019.)

MUSIC COMPOSITIONS TO MY CREDIT

  1. Ideal Foundation Academy Okigwe, Anthem
  2. Holy Child Academy, Rumuibekwe: PH, Anthem
  3. God has Done Marvelous things
  4. Soonum Kelee Chukwu
  5. Obi Na-Asom Rikom
  6. Keleenu Jehova
  7. Mgbe Anyi Ruru N’ Eluigwe
  8. Alfa Na Omega
  9. O Na-Edum
  10. ‘Say No’ to Violence in Igbo Language
  11. Aids is Incurable in Igbo
  12. Kidnapper what is in your mind in Igbo
  13. Ugonma
  14. Say no to Religious Intolerance in Igbo
  15. My little Plano Piece
  16. String Quartet in G Major
  17. Obiri n’ Aja Ocha
  18. Stop! Stop!! Stop!!!

Music Arrangements

  1. Ada Ochi
  2. Enyi m
  3. Kpalanuma
  4. Uri lee
  5. Anyi Gbalaa

Supervision of Students’ Projects

  1. Okechukwu Christian C.: Availability accessibility, and Utilization of Instructional Resources for Music Pedagogy in AE-FUNAI [2018/2019] session
  2. Jeremiah Uchechukwu C.: Performance as Panacea  for Popularizing the Nigerian Art musician Reg No:FUNAI/BA/16/3039 (2019/2020 session).
  3. Omosor, Ruth C.: Combating the Phobia in Nigerian Art Musicians for keyboard playing: Focusing on the Female Gender. Reg no: FUNAI/BA/16/3033. 2019/2020 session
  4. Godwin, Miracle, N.: Use of Waste Materials as Media for the Construction of the Membrane Drum: A Case Study of Gabriel Amade’s Local Drum Technology Reg No: FUNAI/BA/16/3036. 2019/2020 session
  5. Asogwa, Kenneth: Documentation and Transcription of Ikwo Folk Songs for Posterity Reg no: 2017/HU/5366. 2019/2020

Areas of Expertise/Interests

  1. Church Music
  2. African Music theory
  3. Folk Music Arranging
  4. Music Technology
  5. Multimedia Technology in Music Transcription
  6. Contemporary Music
  7. Piano Playing
  8. Dance
  9. Choreography
  10. Operatta (Music playlet)
  11. Music for Film Production
  12. Incidental Music

PUBLICATIONS/DISSERTATIONS

DISSERTATION OR THESIS

  1. Song compositions and Arrangements for Secondary Schools’ Music Pedagogy in Igbo land. (M.A. Thesis in Music), 2014 UNIZIK
  2. Availability and Utilization of Instructional Media/materials for Teaching and Learning of C.C.A. in Unity Schools in Imo and Anambra States (M.ED Thesis in Educational Technology, NOUN, Awka center, 2015)
  3. Indigenous Compositions Arrangements in Different Media for Igbo Anglican Churches and Secondary Schools (Ph.D. Dissertation, 20017, UNIZK, Awka

BOOKS

  1. The Efficacy of Proverbs in the Teaching and Learning of Music. A book contribution: A Festschrift for Ahmed Amfani. Linguistic Association of Nigeria, 2016 PP.621-627. Co-authored by Mabel U. Okpara and Helen N. Onyerisara.
  2. Reminiscence of Academics Achievements in Music Composition under the Tutelage and Mentorship of Dan.C.C. Agu. Musical Horizons in Africa (Essays & Perspectives).pp.353-363 by JANIM
  3. Students’ Favorite Music book (for Junior Secondary Schools) Books 1,2& 3 published by Sebas Publisher, Lagos (2009) ISBN 978-065-709-6.

JOURNALS

  1. Projecting the Igbo Mass Media. Journal of Lingusitics, Languages and Culture, Vol. 2, no. 3, 2015 Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK). Npor: Brystew and Publishers pp-66-83.
  2. The Musical Drama Approach to the Study of Nigerian Languages: Ezegbe’s Nwa Na-eku Nwa as an Example. Journal of Linguistics, Language, and Culture vol. 3, no.1 2016 (UNIZIK) Nkpors Brystew and Publishers pp. 112-121.
  3. The place of Songs in the Upbringing  of the Igbo Child. UNIZIK Faculty of Arts Journal (2015) Fab Anie Ltd, Awka pp.195-205. Humanities and Africa values.
  4. A comparative Analysis o f Past and Present Didactic Songs Used in Nursery and Primary Schools Music Pedagogy in Awka Journal Music and the Arts (AJRMA), 2015. UNIZIK, VOL. 11 pp.17-34, ajrma.com
  5. Availability and Utilization of African Musical Instruments for Music Pedagogy in Unity Colleges in Imo State. Journal of Nigerian Music Education, no. 8, 2015 ISSN 1597-4405
  6. Emergent Tonal Deviations in the Composition of African Music: The Igbo Experience. Journal of the Linguistics Association of Nigeria, 2015 pp 7-19.
  7. Indigenous Musical Instruments: Media of Communication in Nigerian Culture. Awka Journal of Research in Linguistics and Languages Vol. 10, UNIZIK Awka, 2016. P.37-49 ISSN 2016-120X.
  8. Contemporary Compositional Procedures in Nigerian Music Practice: Types and Presentational Style. Nigeria Music Review 2016 no.14 ISSN 116-428x (co-authored by Prof. Dan C.C Agu. and Dr Mabel U. Okpara) pp 19 to 35.
  9. Nigerian Indigenous Music Compositions: Profiling Emily Nwanyi Na- ebi Ego Journal of research in Music and the Arts (AJRMA) 2016, Vol. 12, pp. 18 to 32.
  10. Analytical study of Dan Agu’s  ‘Udo Amaka’: Focusing Indigenous Music Elements. Journal of the Association of Nigerian Musicologist (JANIM) no. 10, 2016 pp 312 to 325.
  11. The Efficacy of Transformative Compositions in Addressing Gender Related Behavioural problems in the Nigerian Child: Focusing on the Boy Child. Journal of the Association o f Nigerian Musicologist (JANM), 2018.
  12. Towards Dispelling the Phobia in Nigerian women for keyboard playing: The Learning Theorist Approach. Jornal of Nigerian Music Education N0. 9, 201722-33 ISSN 1597-2445. (Coauthored by Prof. Dan C.C Agu and Dr. Mabel U. Okpara).
  13. Multimedia Technology: A Vital instrument for Music Composition. International Journal of Art and Humanities (IJHA) Ethiopia Vol. 7(3) S/N0: 26, July, 2018 ISSN: 2225-8590 (Print). ISSN2227-5452 (online) pp. 55-64. Doi: http://dx.doioorg/10.4314/ijah.v7i3,6.

Courses Taught

Courses Allocation for 2018/2019 {Courses taught Ist & 2nd Semesters} with Units

  1. Mus 109 Applied Music of Major Instruments             1
  2. Mus 110 Applied Music: principal instrument                       1
  3. Mus 203 Tonal harmony 1                                                     1
  4. Mus 211 Applied music: major instrument (voice)                 2
  5. Mus 204 Tonal harmony 11                                                   2
  6. Mus 214 Applied Music: major instruments (saxophone) 1
  7. Mus 306 Forms & Analysis                                                   2
  8. Mus 311 Song writing & Arrangement                                  2
  9. Mus 315 Applied Music: Secondary instrument (Piano)        1
  10. Mus 304 Composition                                                            2
  11. Mus 306 Orchestration                                                           2
  12. Mus 316 Applied music: Secondary instruments (Piano)       1
  13. Mus 405 Composition &Choral music arranging                   2
  14. Mus 407 Analysis & Analytical method for 20th century music         2
  15. Mus 413 Applied music: Major instrument (Sax &voice) 1
  16. Mus 402 20th Century Compositional Techniques                 2
  17. Mus406 African music: Historiography, Theoretical Issues & Contemporary Development             2

Course allocation for 2019/2020

Same as above (17 courses) plus
Mus 341 music & film industry
Mus 342 Music Composition/Film Industry

 

Staff Information
Department
Department of Music
Stay in Touch