Scholarly/Professional Summary

Professor Friday Michael Mbon was born over six decades ago in Ikot Ntuen, Ekparakwa Clan in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibon State.

After his Secondary School education in Nigeria, he proceeded to Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States of America, where he obtained the B.A (English) and M.A (Religious Studies) Degrees between 1975 and 1976 respectively. From Andrews, he went to the University of Calgary, Canada, where he earned the M.A. Degree in English Language in 1978 and thereafter to McGill University, Montreal, Canada, where he obtained the S. T. M Degree in Religious Studies in  1979. Subsequently, he capped his academic qualifications with the Ph.D Degree in Religious Studies from the University of Ottawa, Canada, in 1986.

Professor Mbon has had a rich working experience spanning over three decades, lecturing and researching in several universities across the globe. At various times, he had been Lecturer II, Lecturer I, Senior Lecturer, Reader and, currently, is Professor at the Department of Religious and Cultural Studies, University of Calabar, since 1995.

Prof. Mbon has lectured in a number of countries outside Nigeria: in the US, Canada, Germany, Ghana and the West Indies (Jamaica). His areas of research and teaching include Sociology of Religion (with emphasis on African New Religious Movements), African Traditional Religious, Comparative Religion and the World’s Religious Traditions.

Prof. Mbon has held many high positions of responsibilities at the University of Calabar, including being Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), 2006 to 2009; Member, University of Calabar Governing Council (2006-2009); Chairman, University of Calabar Work Ethics Committee; Dean, Faculty of Arts; Director, Center for General Studies; Head, Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy, and Chairman and Member of several Senate Sub-committees. Currently, he chairs the University’s Senate Business/Minutes Vetting Committee.

On the international scene, Prof. Mbon has also played defining roles in the various positions he has held. For instance, he has been a member of the Board of Advisors, American Biographical Institute, 2004 to date, Consulting Editor for Insight: Journal of Religious Studies, Babcock University, 2003 to date, West African Sub-Regional Co-ordinator and Representative for the African Association for the Study of Religion (AASR), Editorial Consultant for the international Journal Religion and for the International Journal Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion.

He has been an External Examiner/Assessor to many Nigerian and overseas universities and colleges of Education and a regular member or chairman of Accreditation Panels for the National Universities Commission (NUC).

As a result of his brilliant academic and professional distinction, he has been awarded many recognitions and honours both within and outside the country.

Currently, Prof. Mbon serves on the Governing Council of Clifford University, Owerrinta, after having also served the prestigious Babcock University, Ogun State, in the same capacity (2010-2015).

Prof. Mbon is happily married to Dr. (Mrs.) Usen Friday Mbon, Senior Lecturer in Educational Administration and Planning, University of Calabar, and their marriage is blessed with five children. His hobbies include football, poetry (reading and writing), singing and listening to good Christian music, as well as travelling (he has travelled, for instance, to places such as India, Turkey, Italy, South Korea, Thailand, Israel, China, Hong Kong, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Canada, the United States of America, the West Indies, and several African Countries to study, do research, deliver lectures, or for pleasure).

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