Details

Username	bugorji
First Name	Basil
Last Name	Ugorji, Ph.D.
Job Position	President and CEO
Organization	International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation (ICERMediation), New York
Country	USA
Experience	Dr. Basil Ugorji is the Founder and CEO of International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation (ICERMediation), a nonprofit organization in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Founded in 2012 in New York, ICERMediation is dedicated to identifying ethnic, racial, and religious conflicts, strategizing solutions, working on prevention, and mobilizing resources to support peace in countries around the world. As a peace and conflict scholar, Dr. Ugorji’s research focuses on how to teach and discuss controversial traumatic memories of war and violence in order to deepen, if not complete, national reconciliation in postwar, transitional societies. Equipped with outstanding research and practice experience of over a decade, Dr. Ugorji uses cutting-edge multidisciplinary methods to study controversial public issues embedded in ethnicity, race, and religion. As a convener, he engages in critical dialogue with diverse group of scholars and students to advance research. As a scholar, he bridges theory, research, practice and policy. As a trainer, he mentors students with lessons learned and best practices to foster transformative learning and collaborative action. As an administrator, he develops and manages innovative projects to address historical and emerging conflicts, secures funding, and encourages local ownership and community engagement in peacebuilding. Dr. Ugorji’s current projects include: International Conference on Ethnic and Religious Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding held every year at Manhattanville College in New York; Ethno-Religious Mediation Training; International Divinity Day; Living Together Movement (a nonpartisan community dialogue project hosted in a safe place of encounter to promote civic engagement and collective action); Virtual Indigenous Kingdoms (online groups created on the ICERMediation App to facilitate the preservation and transmission of indigenous cultures, traditions and languages, and to connect indigenous leaders with their people abroad and in their home countries); and Journal of Living Together (a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes a collection of articles that reflect various aspects of peace and conflict studies). To achieve his long-term goal of building civic bridges, Dr. Ugorji recently launched a civic bridge-building web and mobile application known as ICERMediation. This social media website is similar to Facebook and LinkedIn except that it is a technology of nonviolence. The author of “From cultural justice to inter-ethnic mediation: A reflection on the possibility of ethno-religious mediation in Africa,” Dr. Ugorji has published many peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, including “Black lives matter: Decrypting encrypted racism,” published by Ethnic Studies Review, and “Ethno-religious conflict in Nigeria,” published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. A talented public speaker and policy analyst, Dr. Ugorji has been invited by intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations in New York and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, to share his expertise on violence and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities. He has been interviewed by local and international media, including France24.
Education	Dr. Basil Ugorji holds a PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Master of Arts in Philosophy from Université de Poitiers, France; Diploma in French Language Studies from Centre International de Recherche et d’Étude des Langues (CIREL), Lomé, Togo; and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Projects	A transformative learning of the Nigeria-Biafra War history.
Publication	Books Ugorji, B. (2012). From cultural justice to inter-ethnic mediation: A reflection on the possibility of ethno-religious mediation in Africa. Colorado: Outskirts Press. Book Chapters Ugorji, B. (2018). Ethno-religious conflict in Nigeria. In E. E. Uwazie (Ed.), Peace and conflict resolution in Africa: Lessons and opportunities. Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles Ugorji, B. (2019). Indigenous dispute resolution and national reconciliation: Learning from the Gacaca courts in Rwanda. Journal of Living Together, 6(1), 153-161. Ugorji, B. (2017). Ethno-religious conflict in Nigeria: Analysis and resolution. Journal of Living Together, 4-5(1), 164-192. Ugorji, B. (2017). Culture and conflict resolution: When a low-context culture and a high-context culture collide, what happens? Journal of Living Together, 4-5(1), 118-135. Ugorji, B. (2017). Understanding worldview differences between the law enforcement and religious fundamentalists: Lessons from the Waco standoff case. Journal of Living Together, 4-5(1), 221-230. Ugorji, B. (2016). Black lives matter: Decrypting encrypted racism. Ethnic Studies Review, 37-38(27), 27-43. Ugorji, B. (2015). Combating terrorism: A literature review. Journal of Living Together, 2-3(1), 125-140. Doctoral Dissertation Ugorji, Basil (2022). Nigeria-Biafra War and the Politics of Oblivion: Implications of Revealing the Hidden Narratives through Transformative Learning. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Conflict Resolution Studies. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd/195 Public Policy Papers Ugorji, B. (2022). Communication, Culture, Organizational Model and Style: A Case Study of Walmart. International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation. Ugorji, B. (2017). Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB): A revitalized social movement in Nigeria. International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation. Ugorji, B. (2017). Bring back our girls: A global movement for the release of the Chibok schoolgirls. International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation. Ugorji, B. (2017). Trump’s travel ban: The role of the supreme court in public policy making. International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation. Ugorji, B. (2017). Economic growth and conflict resolution through public policy: Lessons from the Niger Delta of Nigeria. International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation. Ugorji, B. (2017). Decentralization: A policy to end ethnic conflict in Nigeria. International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation. Work in Progress Ugorji, B. (2023). Conflict over the legacy of Christopher Columbus in the Americas: Critical analysis and resolution. Working Paper. Ugorji, B. (2024). Handbook of Ethno-Religious Mediation. Conference Papers Ugorji, B. (2021, February 10). The Columbus monument: A hermeneutical analysis. Paper presented at the Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ugorji, B. (2020, July 29). Fostering a culture of peace through mediation. Paper presented at the event: “Dialogues on culture of peace, fraternity and conflict auto-composition: Possible paths to mediation” hosted by Programa de Pós Graduação Stricto Sensu em Direito. Mestrado e Doutorado (Graduate Program in Law – Masters and Doctorate), Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões, Brazil. Ugorji, B. (2019, October 3). Violence and discrimination against religious minorities in refugee camps across Europe. Policy paper presented to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. [I shared my expertise on how the principles of interreligious dialogue could be used to end violence and discrimination against religious minorities– including amongst refugees and asylum seekers – across Europe]. Meeting synopsis is available at http://www.assembly.coe.int/committee/MIG/2019/MIG007E.pdf. My substantial contribution on this topic is included in the official resolution adopted by the Council of Europe on December 2, 2019, Prevention of violence and discrimination against religious minorities amongst refugees in Europe Ugorji, B. (2016, April 21). Ethno-religious conflict in Nigeria. Paper presented at the 25th Annual Africa & Diaspora Conference. Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution, California State University, Sacramento, California. Speeches/Lectures Ugorji, B. (2022, September 24). The phenomenon of mass-mindedness. A talk given at the Sr. Mary T. Clark Center for Religion and Social Justice’s 1st Annual Interfaith Saturday Retreat Program at Manhattanville College, Purchase, New York. Ugorji, B. (2022, April 14). Spiritual Practice: A Catalyst for Social Change. Lecture delivered at the Manhattanville College Sr. Mary T. Clark Center for Religion and Social Justice Interfaith/Spirituality Speaker Series Program, Purchase, New York. Ugorji, B. (2021, January 22). The role of ethno-religious mediation in America: Promoting cultural diversity. Distinguished lecture delivered at the International Commission for Human Rights and Religious Freedom, Washington DC. Ugorji, B. (2020, December 2). From a culture of war to a culture of peace: The role of mediation. Distinguished lecture delivered at the School of Social Sciences graduate program, American University of Central Asia. Ugorji, B. (2020, October 2). Indigenous peoples and the preservation of nature and environment. Lecture delivered at the Wisdom of the Ancients event. Shrishti Sambhrama – a Celebration of the Earth Mother, organized by the Center for Soft Power in collaboration with Heritage Trust, BNMIT, Wildlife Trust of India and the International Center for Cultural Studies (ICCS). Media Interviews 2020, August 25, Basil Ugorji was interviewed by a Paris based France24 journalist, Pariesa Young, on the violent clash between Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Nigerian law enforcement which occurred in Emene, Enugu state, Nigeria.