Biography

Mary Ogechi Esere JP, is a Professor of Guidance and Counselling in the Department of Counsellor Education, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. She graduated from the University of Calabar with a second class honours (upper division) in Education French in 1990. She had additional training at the Université de Franche Comté, Besançon, France in 1998. Prof. Esere earned her masters and doctorate degrees in Guidance and Counselling from the University of Ilorin in 1997 and 2001 respectively. She started her career as a Lecturer II in the Department of Counsellor Education, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria in 2002. She moved up to the status of Lecturer I in 2005, Senior Lecturer in 2008 and Associate Professor in 2014. In recognition of her scholarly publications, exemplary contribution to teaching, community service and sterling administrative qualities she was promoted to full Professor by the University of Ilorin in 2017.
Prof. Esere has a flair for teaching, organising practicum activities, community service and doing research. She has successfully supervised and examined many graduate and postgraduate projects both within and outside Nigeria. She is particularly interested in development-oriented research. She is one of the authors of a Jacobs Foundation sponsored international landmark book project aimed at revolutionising teacher education in Africa. Presently, Prof. Esere is the Director, Unilorin Counselling and Human Development Centre, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Prof Esere’s research efforts have gravitated around a number of issues surrounding marriage, sex and family counselling, gender issues, communication in marital therapy and general counselling-related issues.