Benjamin A. Okonofua, PhD

I am an applied sociologist, always seeking opportunities to apply my sociological knowledge in real life situations. Whether it is in the classroom where I have accumulated over a decade of teaching experience, in various professional organizations where I have worked as a banker, advocate, researcher, analyst, and manager, in entrepreneurship where I have created businesses and directly engaged with workers, or in humanitarian work where I helped to found an organization providing support to disadvantaged and underserved populations in Africa, I am continuously applying sociological knowledge to help improve the human condition.

 

For instance, between 1999 and 2014, I taught sociology at two universities in Nigeria - Ambrose Alli University, a state-owned institution located in a semi-rural community, and the University of Benin, a federal institution located in the heart of the Benin metrolopolis - where I collaborated with students to apply sociological concepts to their lived experiences. During the period, I was also involved in efforts to improve the Nigerian political culture to make it more democratic and meaningful to the lives of ordinary people. Using the platform of the CrimeWatch International, an NGO that I founded and which uses an articulate program of research, advocacy, and training to liberate areas of our community from cult-gangs, armed militants, and other criminal organizations, I contributed to the discourse of building strong institutions to replace the strongmen that held Nigeria captive.

 

In the U.S., I worked for banks in various capacities, learning banking principles and using these ideas to advice customers and neighbors about money, particularly how it is made or lost, maintained, and reproduced; ultimately impacting social relationships. Since 2012, I have worked as a consultant on the human domain in support of the U.S. Army. Between 2013 and 2014, I supported the U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) in Vicenza, Italy. From 2014 to 2016, I supported the U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) in San Antonio, Texas, and since October 2016, I have supported the U.S. Army Africa Command (AFRICOM), in Stuttgart and the United Kingdom. Earlier in 2012, I held a post-doctoral position at the U.S. Army Public Health Command in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, as Senior Social Scientist in the Behavioral and Social Health Outcome Program (BSHOP); applying sociological knowledge and qualitative research skills to understand the behavioral and social health conditions of U.S. soldiers.

 

In between these roles, I find time for the more meaningful, micro-level interactions with members of my community; even learning to fly small planes. Still, I continue to advise several large defense contractors as independent consultant and SME, helping to develop programs and methodologies for understanding, describing, explaining, and predicting social outcomes from a wide variety of processes and events. In addition, I helped to found the African Center for Conflict Transformation (ACCT), a not-for-profit organization working to transform conditions favorable to armed conflict to conditions favorable to peace. As Executive Director of ACCT, I set the research agenda and prioritize the activities of the organization. I also helped to found Africa's List, an ambitious project that seeks to both make African businesses and professionals visible or legible to the world and empower Africans (as individuals, groups, and collectives) to exploit economic opportunities through increased visibility.