Ms Blossom Ottoh-Agede, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Ms. Blossom Ottoh-Agede is a dedicated academic and researcher with a rich background in English Studies. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Ibadan in 2019, focusing on rhetorical orientation and style in representations of terror. Her academic journey includes attending the University of Calabar and AfriHUB Computer Training. Ms. Ottoh-Agede has presented numerous conference papers on African and World Literature, gender semiotics, and the 21st-century feminist utopia. She has received various awards for her excellence in academics and leadership, including the best academic student award and the best PhD thesis nomination. Ms. Ottoh-Agede is an active member of several professional bodies, including the Linguistics Association of Nigeria and the Association of Nigerian Authors. ๐๐
Publication Profile
Orcid
Academic History
Ms. Blossom Ottoh-Agede has a diverse educational background. She attended the University of Ibadan from 2014 to 2019, where she completed her PhD in Rhetorical orientation and style in representations of terror in selected Nigerian newspaper reports on Boko Haram. Earlier, she also earned a Master of Arts Degree in English Stylistics in 2011 and completed a computer appreciation course in the same year. She obtained her BA in English & Literary Studies with a 2nd Class Upper Division from the University of Calabar between 2003 and 2008. She completed her National Examination Council (NECO) in 2000 and her First School Leaving Certificate from Presbyterian Primary School, Ugep, between 1984 and 1990. ๐๐
Conference Papers
Ms. Blossom Ottoh-Agede specializes in African and World Literature. She has presented research on gender reconstruction in Alice Walkerโs The Color Purple and Maya Angelouโs I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings at the African and World Literature Conference, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2012). In 2013, she explored “Language and identity in Alice Walkerโs The Color Purple and Maya Angelouโs I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” at the International Conference on African Literature and the English Language, University of Calabar. She also presented “Gender semiotics and the 21st-century feminist utopia: Implications on national security and socio-political development” at the same conference. ๐๐๐ค
Distinctions, Prizes, and Nominations
Ms. Blossom Ottoh-Agede is an accomplished academic with numerous accolades to her name. In 2007, she received the Best Academic Student Award from the Department of English and Literary Studies at the University of Calabar, Nigeria. She was also honored with the Award of Excellence by the Nka Literary Club in 2006. In 2019, her PhD thesis was nominated for Best Thesis at the University of Ibadan. She was recognized for her Excellent Leadership by the Creative Writersโ Forum at the Federal University of Lafia in 2021. Ms. Ottoh-Agede has received several awards, including the TETFUND Research Project Award (2017-2020) and an Award of Excellence from the Mafesh Youth Initiative in 2023. She was also appreciated as a Level Adviser for the 2023 graduating set of English and Literary Studies students at Federal University of Lafia. In the same year, she was awarded the Distinguished Lecturer Award by the National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Nigeria. ๐๐๐
Special Service Contract Award
Ms. Blossom Ottoh-Agede received a double article contributors’ contract award from the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), African Union, in 2021. This recognition highlights her contributions to the study of terrorism in Africa, showcasing her expertise and dedication to advancing research in this critical field. ๐๐ Her work underscores the importance of collaborative efforts to understand and address the challenges posed by terrorism across the continent. ๐๐
Membership of Professional Bodies
Ms. Blossom Ottoh-Agede has been an active member of various academic and professional associations. In 2013, she joined the Linguistics Association of Nigeria (LAN), the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), and Feminist/Womanist Theorists. She became a member of the Reading Association of Nigeria (RAN) in 2014, and in 2015, she joined Diversity in Organisations, Communities, and Nations. In 2018, she became a member of the English Scholarsโ Association of Nigeria (ESAN) and served as the Secretary for the Yakurr Academic Society (YAS) in 2019. In 2022, she joined the Gender in Africa Network and the Association of African Rhetoric. In 2023, she participated in Afrikanists Assemble, a reading group of the Recalibrating Afrikanistik (RecAf) Project. In 2024, she became a member of the African Pragmatics Association and the Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS). ๐๐๐
Research Focus
Blossom Ottoh-Agede’s research primarily focuses on violence and narrative representation, particularly in African literature. Her recent work analyzes how Sefi Atta’s Swallow and Mariama Bรข’s So Long a Letter depict women’s experiences with violence, exploring themes of agency, oppression, and resilience. Ottoh-Agede examines how these narratives use storytelling to challenge traditional perceptions and empower female voices in the face of societal challenges. Her research contributes to a deeper understanding of gender dynamics and cultural identity in contemporary African literature. ๐๐๐
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