Dr. Joseph Paul Essien

MBBS (Sydney), FRACS (Paediatric Surgery)

Rev. Fr (Dr) Joseph Paul Essien is a team player, a seasoned educationist, an astute hard-working disciplinarian and a Priest of the Holy Catholic Church. In word and deeds, he is a teacher and a lover of intellectual empowerment. He started his career as a teacher with the Cross River State Secondary Education Board in 2008. He served the Board faithfully until 2016 when he joined the University of Calabar, Calabar in 2016 as Lecturer II in the Department of Philosophy. Dr Essien holds a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1994 and Bachelor of Theology degree in 1999 obtained from Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome. After his successful ordination into the Catholic Priesthood in 1999, he studied at the University of Uyo, Nigeria where he was awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in Communication Arts in 2008 and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education in 2008. He was awarded a Masters of Philosophy of Law degree by the University of Calabar in 2010. Rev. Fr Essien holds a PhD degree in Philosophy of Law from the University of Calabar (2015). University of Calabar awarded Fr Essien a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2013 before he proceeded to the Nigeria Law School, Enugu Campus, where he obtained a Bachelor at Law and was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar in 2016. He is an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Driven by passion and sincere interest to contribute to human development, he studied at the National Open University, Calabar Campus where he was awarded M.Ed degree in Educational Administration and Planning. Dr Essien has been teaching, researching and mentoring students and staff thereby contributing to the development of the University. He has published over thirteen scholarly articles in international and local peer reviewed Journals. He has also published a textbook and contributed three chapters to books. Rev. Fr Essien has attended many local and international conferences where he presented well-researched papers. He is a Fellow and Member of the Society for Research and Academic Excellence, Nigerian Philosophical Association, Faculties of Arts Humanities Association of Nigerian Universities, and member, Nigerian Bar Association, Calabar Chapter. He is presently an active member of the Presbyterum of the Catholic Archdiocese of Calabar. .