Genocide Studies, Historical Accountability, Genocide, Epidemiology of Conflict, Post-Conflict Public Health & Trauma, The Nigerian Civil War (Biafra), Global Geopolitical Instability, Ethno-Religious Relations in Nigeria, Wartime Women's Experiences, Systemic Violence and Institutional Denial, Scholarly Activism & Documentation, Social Determinants of Health, Peace, Poverty and Effects on Marginalized Communities, Politial Unrest PeppTalks JeannePepper Genocide Studies, Historical Accountability, Genocide, Epidemiology of Conflict, Post-Conflict Public Health & Trauma, The Nigerian Civil War (Biafra), Global Geopolitical Instability, Ethno-Religious Relations in Nigeria, Wartime Women's Experiences, Systemic Violence and Institutional Denial, Scholarly Activism & Documentation, Social Determinants of Health, Peace, Poverty and Effects on Marginalized Communities, Politial Unrest PeppTalks JeannePepper

Episode 308 Dr. Theresa Ukpo

Testifying to History: The Literature of Genocide

The Mandate to Document: The forgotten genocide

Dr. Ukpo’s primary activist contribution is her authorship of the book The forgotten genocide. The selection of the word "forgotten" is a deliberate political and historical declaration. The title implies that the atrocities committed during the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967-1970) have been deliberately overlooked or excluded from international and even national historical discourse, despite evidence classifying the events as genocide. Her work, therefore, functions not merely as history but as a form of corrective advocacy, demanding acknowledgment for the systemic political violence and human rights violations that caused catastrophic suffering, primarily among the Igbo population.  

Contextualizing Systemic Violence

By centering her activism on documentation, Dr. Ukpo positions herself as a critical voice advocating for historical recognition and accountability. Her book ensures that the lessons of the Biafra War, including the catastrophic death toll and the profound social disintegration, are not relegated to a closed chapter of history. Furthermore, her ability to discuss the Nigerian Genocide provides authoritative context for understanding contemporary security issues and ethno-religious conflicts that continue to destabilize Nigeria. Her scholarship frames historical genocide not as an isolated event, but as a foundational trauma that continues to underpin modern instability and systemic health disparities, thereby connecting her political commentary seamlessly with her public health expertise.  This synthesis of historical severity (genocide) and intimate vulnerability (relationship stress) is precisely what makes Dr. Ukpo an exceptionally compelling podcast guest. Her career demonstrates that the principles she applies to understanding societal fractures—such as identifying pathogenic determinants, managing chronic stress, and advocating for peace—are universally applicable. The discussion is likely to pivot from the macro scale of her work on The forgotten genocide and its implications for Nigerian instability to the micro scale of individual psychological wellness, using her expertise in Peace Is Health to offer guidance on achieving emotional resilience and harmony in daily life. This blend of authoritative scholarship and relatable, candid emotional honesty ensures a discussion that is both deeply informative and broadly engaging for a popular audience.

Dr. Theresa M. O. Ukpo’s podcast is an interview that is an exceptionally rare combination of academic rigor and lived geopolitical experience. Her development from a young woman whose education was halted by the Nigeria-Biafra War to a Ph.D. Epidemiologist who documented The forgotten genocide and teaches the necessity of Peace Is Health demonstrates a career marked by relentless social responsibility.

The overarching conclusion is that Dr. Ukpo’s professional focus—the study of stress, trauma, and systemic conflict through the lens of epidemiology—is a direct, scholarly response to the political violence that shaped her early life. Her body of work provides a unified analysis of suffering, arguing that violence, whether political or personal, must be understood as a primary public health concern. She is uniquely equipped to translate the severe, long-term costs of historical atrocities into practical, human-centered discussions on wellness, mental health, and conflict resolution, making her an indispensable voice in contemporary discourse.

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