Staff

Professor Mary Ogechi Esere is a distinguished Nigerian academic specializing in Guidance and Counselling. She serves as a Professor in the Department of Educational Guidance and Counselling at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

Academic Background and Career

Prof. Esere earned a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree in Education French from the University of Calabar in 1990. She furthered her studies at the Université de Franche-Comté in Besançon, France, in 1998. In 2001, she obtained her Ph.D. in Guidance and Counselling from the University of Ilorin. Her academic career at the University of Ilorin began in 2002 as a Lecturer II. She progressed through the ranks, becoming a Senior Lecturer in 2008, an Associate Professor in 2014, and achieving full Professorship in 2017.

Research Interests and Contributions

Prof. Esere’s research encompasses marriage and family counselling, gender issues, and communication in marital therapy. She has supervised numerous doctoral and master’s theses, as well as over 100 undergraduate projects. Prof. Esere has collaborated with authors from South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe on African marriage theories and practices. Her scholarly work includes studies on effective communication in marriage, HIV/AIDS awareness among adolescents, and the psychosocial experiences of infant mortality among Nigerian mothers.

International Engagement and Collaborations

Prof. Esere has served as a doctoral external examiner at institutions such as the University of Fort Hare in South Africa and the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. She has collaborated on international projects, including a Jacobs Foundation-sponsored book aimed at revolutionizing teacher education in Africa, and has contributed to works on indigenous societies and cultural globalization. Prof. Esere has collaborated with authors from South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe on African marriage theories and practices.

Teaching and Service

Beyond research, Prof. Esere is actively involved in teaching and community service. She has held various administrative roles, including Head of Department, postgraduate coordinator, and examination officer. Her commitment to education and counselling has made significant impacts both within Nigeria and internationally. Prof. Esere is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Professional Counselling (JPC), a publication of Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria (APROCON).