Career Profile
“Prof Gideon Sunday Omachonu is a Professor of Linguistics and currently the Vice-President of the Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN). He trained at the University of Ilorin for his BA (Hons) degree (1995) and at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka for MA (2002) and PhD (2007) all in Linguistics. He started his academic career in 1996 and rose through the ranks to be promoted Professor of Linguistics in 2013. Prof Omachonu is a member of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), member and Fellow, Linguistic Association of Nigeria (since 2020), Fellow, Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung/Foundation (since 2011), and Fellow, International Centre for Science, Humanities and Education Research (FICSHER) (since 2013) among others. He is currently Dean of Arts, NOUN, Abuja. Over the years, Prof Omachonu has worked hard to define a clear research profile and to establish his academic citizenship as a versatile and globally visible scholar; one who has made remarkable contributions to linguistic scholarship through teaching, research, publications, and community service. He has over 80 highly rated and widely circulated publications found in both local and international outlets. He has granted over thirty (30) lead/keynote addresses (virtual and on site) in Nigeria, other countries in Africa, Europe and America. He is a beneficiary of several research grants and fellowships both local and international. He has successfully supervised/graduated eight (8) doctoral theses to date, besides numerous MA/BA projects. His records of overseas professional experience include:
i. Guest Scientist, Humboldt University, Berlin-Germany, 2011-2012.
ii. Guest Scientist, University of Bayreuth, Germany, June-November 2019.
iii. Visiting Scholar, University of Hamburg, Germany, July-September, 2023.”
Professor Gideon Sunday Omachonu
6869
HeadQuarters
Arts
Linguistics Foreign and Nigerian languages
Professor
Dean
gsomachonu@noun.edu.ng
08058421956
2014- PGDE National Teachers Institute (NTI) Kaduna/NOUN
2007- PhD Linguistics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
2002- MA Linguistics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
1995- B.A. (Hons) Linguistics, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
i. Dean, Faculty of Arts, NOUN, Abuja 8th October, 20324-.
ii. Professor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Abuja, Oct.2023-
iii. Visiting Scholar, University of Hamburg, Germany, July-September, 2023.
iv. Dean, Faculty of Arts, 1st April, 2021-April 2023.
v. Professor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, October 2013 to date
vi. One Year Sabbatical Leave at the University of Jos (Dept. of English), August 2014-July 2015.
vii. Associate Professor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, 2010-2013
viii. Senior Lecturer, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, 2007-2010.
ix. Head, Department of Languages and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University, Keffi August 2008- June, 2011, March 2013- August 2014, June 2016-April 2017.
x. Lecturer II, Department of English and Literary Studies, Kogi State University, Anyigba, 2004 to 2007.
xi. Lecturer, School of Languages, Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, Nov. 1996 to 2004.
PUBLICATIONS
Books
Omachonu, G. S. (2017). Language Documentation and Description: A Programmatic Response to Language Death and Endangerment in Nigeria. 15th Inaugural Lecture, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, 15th November, 2017. Publisher: Information and Protocol Unit, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
**Omachonu, G. S. (2011). Optimality Account of Stress in Standard British and Nigerian English. Germany: LAMBERT Academic Publishing.
Omachonu, G. S. (2010). Fundamentals of English Phonetics and Phonology.
Enugu- Nigeria: Rossen Production and Services Ltd.
Omachonu, G. S. (2003). Effective Writing Skills. Nsukka: Great AP Express
Publishers Limited (2nd Edition published in 2011 by Rossen Productions Ltd).
II. Journal Articles
** International Publication
** Omachonu G.S., Umaru J.Y., Ashikeni, T.O. & Dalhatu, A.M. (2024). Language and Worldview: Conceptualisation of Novel Concepts in Languages of Nasarawa State. Tropical Journal of Arts and Humanities 2024, 6 (1), 30-45.
**Omachonu, G. S. (2023). Climate Change and Resource War in Africa. International Journal of Migration and Global Studies IJMGS Vol3(2), Nov., 2023, 147-170.
**Omachonu, G. S. & Ejeba, S. O. (2023). Towards a Linguistic Study of Ígálà Personal Names. Tropical Journal of Arts and Humanities 2023 5(1), 1-16.
**Omachonu, G. S. (2022). Environmental Humanities: Implications for Language, Migration and Global Studies. International Journal of Migration and Global Studies IJMGS Vol2(2), Nov., 2022, 148-166.
**Omachonu, G. S. and Dalhatu, A. M. (2018). The Languages of the North Central Geographical Zone of Nigeria. Journal of the linguistic association of Nigeria (JOLAN), Supplement III: Language documentation and description in Nigeria: Problems and prospects, 308-327.
Omachonu, G. S. (2016). Vowel Sequence and Phonemic Status of /h/ and /ŋ/ in Igala. Ihafa: A Journal of African Studies 8: 1, 154-175. Publisher: University of Lagos
Book Chapters
Omachonu, G. S. (2023). Traditional Research Methodology in Linguistics. In Haruna, A (ed.). A Publication of the Nigerian Academy of Letters vol.20. Greenminds Media and Publishers, Ibadan, pp 143-73.
Omachonu, G. S. (2023). Cultural Commonalities in Nigeria’s Heterogeneity: A Linguistic Perspective. In Haruna, A (ed.). Language, the Nation State and the African Renaissance: Essays in Honour of Professor Emeritus Ayo Bamgbose @90. Greenminds Media and Publishers, Ibadan, 99-140.
Omachonu, G.S. (2020). The Humanities: A Neglected Path to Sustainable National Development in Nigeria. In H. Adeniyi, G. Ibileye & N. Abdul-Malik (eds.). Issues in Minority Languages and Language Development Studies in Nigeria: A Festschrift in Honour of Andrew Haruna, 87—95.
**Omachonu, G.S. (2015). Language endangerment in Northern Nigeria: The case of Igala. In Martin Pütz & Neele Mundt (eds.). Vanishing Languages in Context. Frankfurt/Main: Peter Lang, 279-294.
**Omachonu, G.S. (2015). Headedness and Demarcation between Nominal Compound and Noun Phrase in Ígálà. In Ọlanikẹ Ọla Orie, Johnson F. Ilọri and Lendzemo Constantine Yuka (eds.). Current Research in African Linguistics: Papers in Honor of O̩ladele Awobuluyi. UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 411-433.
Omachonu, G.S. (2015). Language Documentation: A Dependable Linguistic Practice for Minimizing the Effects of Endangerment on Languages in Nigeria. In Language Endangerment: Globalisation and the Fate of Minority Languages in Nigeria: A Festschrift for Appolonia U. Okwdudishu. Port- Harcourt: M & J Grand Orbit Communications Ltd. & Emhai Press, 1-16. Publisher: The Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN).
Omachonu, G.S. (2015). Language and Worldview: A Study of Novel Concepts as Compounds in Ígálà, Ìgbò, Hausa, and Yorùbá. In R.I. Okorji, C.A. Eme & G.S. Omachonu (eds.). Contemporary Issues in Linguistics and Language Studies: A Festschrift for Prof. Clara Ikekeonwu at 65. Enugu- Nigeria: Rossen Production and Services Ltd, 246-267.
Omachonu, G. S. (2015). Patterns of Review and Styles of Documentation in the Humanities. In J.D. Gwamna & A.A. Alagbe (eds.). Fundamentals and Commonalities of Research in the Humanities. Enugu- Nigeria: Rossen Production and Services Ltd, 24-42. Publisher: Faculty of Arts, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
BOOK OF PROCEEDINGS
Omachonu, G.S. (2023). Education, Research and Digital Humanities in a Digital Age. In Michael, M., Imoh, M.P & Egbeji, P.O. (eds.). Humanities, Security, Development and Pandemics. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference of Facullty of Arts, Nasarawa State University, held 23rd -25th March, 2023, Eiwa Press Ltd, 10-20.
General Linguistics, Typology, Language Documentation & Description, Forensic Linguistics, Digital Humanities (Linguistics).
Gideon Omachonu: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1105-4496
Research Grants and Fellowships
i. Omachonu G S (2023). ‘Language and Conflict: The Use of Cryptolect among the Igala’. Renewed Research Stay at the University of Hamburgh, Germany, funded by ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT FOUNDATION, July to September, 2023.
ii. Gideon S. Omachonu, Yakubu Umaru, Thomas O. Ashikeni, and Abigail Dalhatu Musa (2021). Language and Worldview: Conceptualization of Novel Concepts in the Languages of Nasarawa State (Joint Staff Team Research: Years 2020-2021 IBR TETFUND Research Project)
iii. Omachonu G S (2019). ‘Descriptive Grammar of Igala Personal Names’, Renewed Research Stay at the University of Bayreuth, Germany, funded by ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT FOUNDATION, June to November, 2019.
iv. Gideon S. Omachonu, Thomas K. Adeyanju, Philip N. Anagbogu, Bem P. Ianna and Philip M. Imoh: Documenting the Linguistic Profile of Languages in Nasarawa State (Joint Staff Team Research: Years 2013-2014 (Merged) TETFUND Research Projects) Intervention, 6th Batch RP Disbursement.
v. ‘Language Documentation: Information Structure in Languages in Kogi and Nasarawa’. A Return Fellowship funded by ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT FOUNDATION (The Georg Forster Research Fellowships), Federal Republic of Germany, March 2013- Feb 2014.
vi. ‘Igala Language: A Linguistic Documentation and Description’. Funded by ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT FOUNDATION (The Georg Forster Research Fellowships), Federal Republic of Germany, July 2011- August 2012.