T. Uzodinma Nwala

Timothy Uzodinma Nwala (born 20 March 1942) is a Nigerian professor of Philosophy. He is recorded as the father of contemporary African Philosophy and was the first Nigerian graduate in philosophy from an indigenous university. The African Philosophy courses he developed later were adopted in the curricula of many universities in Africa and the United States. He is the author of the book, Igbo Philosophy.

Nwala's idea of an East Central State Volunteer Services Corps just after the Nigerian Civil War contributed to the founding of the National Youth Service Corps by the Gowon administration of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Nwala was one of the pioneer members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He authored the initial drafts of the G-34 Memorandum and the PDP's first constitution. and in that capacity, authored the ASUU Memorandum submitted to the Presidential Commission on Universities. He was National Vice-president, Nigerian Philosophical Association (NPA) from 1980 until 1982; and second National President, Nigerian Philosophical Association from 1982 to 1984. Nwala is the founding president of the Alaigbo Development Foundation. He delivered the 18th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria entitled, "The Otonti Nduka Mandate: From Tradition to Modernity". Elizabeth Urasi Ehilegbu, née Nwosu, Uzodinma Nwala's mother, was a trader and one of the town's female leaders. His mother was left to raise him after his father died when he was a small child. Just before the Nigerian Civil war in 1967, foreign lecturers left the department of Philosophy and the department was disbanded with the students transferring to other departments, but Nwala insisted he must be a graduate of philosophy.

After the Nigerian Civil War, he was involved in the "Food for Work" programme of the East Central State rehabilitation commission established to execute the post-war three "R"s of the Gowon administration: Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reconciliation. The programme evolved into the East Central State Volunteer Services Corps (ECSVSC) of the East Central State rehabilitation commission, made up of young people involved in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the then war-torn eastern Nigeria. It was formed late in February 1970. The idea behind the ECSVSC was passed onto the Federal Government of Nigeria, along with other pressures, and this led to the formation of the National Youth Service Corps of Nigeria. It was at the Institute that Nwala worked further on his research on the thought patterns of the Igbos which later became the book, "Igbo Philosophy". Nwala was later transferred to the Department of Philosophy when it was resuscitated. Reverend Sturch, the new department head, requested that Nwala design two African philosophy courses: African Philosophy I (Traditional African Philosophy) and African Philosophy II (Contemporary African Philosophy). African philosophy eventually made its way into the curricula of African universities as well as the larger global university system. Thus, in the 1971/1972 session, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka became the first university in the world to incorporate African philosophy into its curricula.

Nwala left Nigeria in 1972 to attend The New School for Social Research on a government scholarship. At the Graduate School, he read, as major subjects, – Social and Political Philosophy, Economics, and Social Anthropology. He obtained his M.A. in 1975 and PhD in1977; all in Social Philosophy. His PhD sissertation The Structure of the Political Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes was supervised by Anthony Quinton. The concept of six geopolitical zones was created by Nwala, but Ekwueme popularized it. The Institute of Civil Society (ICS), which he and Ekwueme founded, served as the foundation for G-34's formation..

Alaigbo Development Foundation The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), was established in 2014 by Nwala and several other well-known Igbo leaders. Nwala became its founding President. The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) was established in the wake of the 2014 International Colloquium on the Igbo Question in Nigeria. The perceived challenges that Ndigbo face in Nigeria and around the world, along with the unstable nature of the Nigerian federation, served as inspiration for this initiative. In 2007, he delivered the 18th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria.

Personal life Nwala is married to Nwanneka Obioma Bene Nwala (nee Mezue), a writer, poet and lawyer. They have eight children.