14th Annual National Conference & Workshop

Ibiere Ken-Maduako is a professor of Pragmatics in Communication at the Department of English and Communication Art, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni Port Harcourt. She is the immediate past National President of the English Language Teachers Association of Nigeria (ELTAN) and the current National Vice President of the Literacy Promotion Association of Nigeria (LIPAN) formerly known as the Reading Association of Nigeria (RAN). She is also the immediate past Chairman of the Rivers State branch of LiPAN and a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). She also belongs to diverse professional bodies such as the Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN), English Scholars Association of Nigeria (ESAN), Pragmatics Association of Nigeria (PrAN) and so many other Academic bodies. She is the coordinator of the Debating Council, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, a poet, professional teacher, teacher educator, professional phonics trainer and a mentor to younger professional colleagues. She has over one hundred and ten academic publications, quite a number of short stories (published and yet to be published), three collections of poems and some children's stories. She is also the Associate Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and the pioneer Head of the Department of Mass Communication in the University, a passionate learner who is eager to learn new things at every given opportunity. She loves GOD and the people of GOD. She also loves reading, writing, seeing people happy, skipping, singing and playing the keyboard.

Thompson O. Ewata holds a Bachelor, and a Master's of Arts degrees from the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in English from the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State both in Nigeria. He is currently a Reader in the Department of Linguistics, Foreign & Nigerian Languages, University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State. He was the Ag. Head of Department in the Department of Linguistics, Foreign & Nigerian Languages and the Ag. Director of the General Studies Unit of the university. He is currently on sabbatical at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo town, Ondo Town, Nigeria. His areas of research interest include Vague Language, Corpus Linguistics, Business Communication, Discourse and Conversation Analysis. 

Uche Oboko, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Department of English and Literary Studies, Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. She is the immediate Past Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and currently, the Head of the Department of English and Literary Studies.

She holds Bachelors of Arts Degree in English language, Masters of Arts (Teaching of English as a Second Language), a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Foundations, and a PhD in English. She is a member of many Academic Associations which include: International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL), the English Language Teachers Association of Nigeria (ELTAN), Africa ELTA and the Pragmatics Association of Nigeria (PRAN) to mention but few. She has numerous national and international journal publications, books, co-authored books, and book chapters to her credit.

Her research interests include: Linguistic Politeness, Pragmatics, Sociolinguistics, Applied Linguistics, and Language Studies. Her hobbies include reading, writing, dancing, traveling, and meeting people. Uche Oboko is happily married to Mr Joseph Obiajulum Oboko, a Chartered Accountant, and the marriage is blessed with children.

Awards Received:

1. An Award of Honour as the First Female Head of Department in the Department of English, Madonna University 2018
2. An Award of Selfless Service by Madonna University, Nigeria 2018
3. An Award of Excellence by the Students in the Department of English as the Most Dedicated Lecturer 2017
4. An Award of Excellence by the Students in the Department of English 2016
5. An Award of Honour as a Literary Icon by Madonna Writing and Speaking Association 2012
6. An Award of Honour as a Patron by Madonna Writing and Speaking Association 2011

Google Scholar link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=aGduW3cAAAAJ&hl=en