Kialee Nyiayaana, PhD

Prof. Kialee Nyiayaana is Professor of International Relations and Conflict Studies in the Department of Political Science, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. His other research interests are peace, security, resource conflict and identity politics. Prof. Nyiayaana obtained a Second-Class Honours Degree (Upper Division) in Political and Administrative Studies from the University of Port Harcourt in 1997. In 2000 and 2014, Prof. Nyiayaana obtained his M.Sc Degrees in International Relations and Security, Leadership and Society from the University of Port Harcourt and King's College, London, respectively. Prof. Nyiayaana is a distinguished scholar of international repute. His research articles have appeared in reputable international journals such as African Security, Cosmopolitan Civil Societies, Leadership and Developing Societies, Nkoko: Journal of the Institute of African Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada and Eras. Prof Nyiayaana was a Fulbright Fellow at the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Nova Southeastern University, Florida, between 2008 and 2009. He was also a Fellow of the African Leadership Centre’s Peace Security and Development Programme at King’s College, London between 2013 and 2014. Prof. Nyiayaana served as an Intern at the International Peace Institute, (IPI) New York, July-Aug, 2014 with specific study visits to the United Nations’ Department of Political Affairs, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the United Nations Security Council Report. He was a Visiting Scholar at the Centre of Criminology, University of Cape Town, South Africa from November 2014 to January 2015. Prof. Nyiayaana is currently an Erasmus Teaching Mobility Scholar at the Babes-Boyai University Romania, a visiting position tenable at the University for three years, 2025-27. Prof Nyiayaana combines active field research with teaching, and has won several research grants. He won the France Institute of African Studies, (IFRA) University of Ibadan’s Ph.D Field Research Support Grant in 2007. And in 2012, he was a recipient of the African Peacebuilding Individual Research grant of the Social Science Research Council of New York. He was also a recipient of the Tetfund National Research Grant in 2022, working on a collaborative research project with some senior Professors at the University of Port Harcourt. Prof. Nyiayaana has worked with several national and international organizations as a Research Consultant. These include amongst others, the Associate Peace Works in 2020 on a research project titled: “Insecurity in Rivers State: The Issues, Actors and Solutions”; the New Nigeria Foundation to conduct research on the Project: “Needs Assessment of Host Communities in Rivers State for the Implementation of Nigeria’s 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)) in September 2022; the Conflict Research Network of West Africa (CORN), on the Research Project: “Peace and Conflict Assessment in the South-South Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria” March, 2024; the National Security Office in Collaboration with United Nations Development Project Support for the Project: “Mapping Study of Vigilante and Local Policing in Nigeria” between April and May, 2024; and the Stakeholders Democratic Network on the Project: “The Diverse Roles of Women in Niger Delta-Based Piracy in Nigeria”, August 2025 - present. Prof. Nyiayaana is currently a National Coordinator of the African Indigenous Research Group, representing Ogoni and the University of Port Harcourt in a collaborative project between Carleton University, Canada and the Master Card Foundation. Prof. Nyiayaana has held important positions at the University of Port Harcourt, including serving as Deputy Director of the Centre for Conflict and Gender Studies and the Centre of Peace and Security Studies from 2021-2022. Prof. Nyiayaana is a member of several professional organisations including: • Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), Nigeria • Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), Nigeria • African Peacebuilding Network, New York, United States • Conflict Research Network in West Africa (CORN – West Africa) • Council for the Advancement of Education, (CASE), USA