Philosophy Clinic
& Human Development Centre
The first Philosophy Clinic in a Nigerian University, born from the Department of Philosophy of Madonna University to demonstrate the practical dimension of philosophy in human existential realities.
Serving the Needs of Our Time
Welcome to Philosophy Clinic (PC) of the Philosophy Department of Madonna University, the first Private University in Nigeria, an institution built on two strong pillars of Decency and Morals — the two determinants of good human actions and sustainable development — where students are exposed to quality education blended with good moral character formation for a life of excellence and authentic existence.
It bears its torchlight on the recognition of man from somatic, psychological and spiritual dimensions with logotherapeutic interventions. Mindful of the fact that man is a being whose success lies in his disposition to life, and considering how significantly depressed, frustrated and in fact bizarre many Nigerians feel at this perilous period which shroud their lives, PC serves best by helping them to attain deeper self-awareness in order to rediscover and recognize more sense of purpose and more profound meaning in life. PC helps the human person to perceive more meaning in life, from the logo-existential perspective.
Three Purposes
Philosophy Clinic has triple major objectives. Thus, it serves academic, existential and entrepreneurial purposes.
Academic Purpose — Internship Programme
Existential Purpose — Philosophy in Praxis
Entrepreneurial Purpose — Critical & Creative Reasoning
A meaningless life is not worth living. It firmly serves the existential needs of contemporary Nigerians that incessantly call for purposeful growth and meaningful development, by assisting to give more meaning to life which leads to more authentic existence.
Philosophy Clinic · Logo-Existential Perspective
Foundations of the Clinic
The Philosophy Clinic is built on these assumptions.
Life Is Precious Man is an exquisite creature who is always in search of meaning to promote his life. Therefore, it is worth living meaningfully to appreciate, uphold and promote the value of God's precious and ultimate gift of life to man.
Meaningful Life A meaningless life is not worth living, and we are as we make sense out of our world.
Purposeful Struggle It takes very little to live a meaningful, authentic and fulfilled life, but it demands only a purposeful struggle through the challenges of human existence.
From Idea to First of Its Kind
Philosophy Clinic is a novel area and a practical dimension of philosophy. It was born out of the existential needs of the contemporary society. Man, especially in recent years, has been so evidently plagued with palpable daunting challenges that question the meaning of human life in general, the value and worth of human existence, and consequently lethargically wane the dignity of man and human life in general.
The idea of the clinic, which was meant to offer critical insight into man's concrete existential experiences, was theoretically conceived for a long time, but the innovation of it was actualized in October 2021, in the first semester of the 2021/2022 academic session, when some practical measures were put in place resulting from series of departmental board meetings that eventually gained faculty and senate approvals, respectively. The initiator and Founder of the clinic was Sr. Dr. Purissima Egbekpalu, who first presented the idea to the rest of the staff in the Department as a way of helping the wounded Nigerians, especially the youth. Together with the rest of the staff then, and in consultation with the former and the current Presidents of the national body, the Association of Professional Philosophers of Nigeria (APPON) — Prof. JCA Agbakoba and Prof. A.S Ihuah respectively — the idea of the Philosophy Clinic was further shaped.
To this end, Madonna University now becomes the very first University in Nigeria to house a Philosophy Clinic in her Philosophy Department. In the second semester of 2021/2022, a designated part of the 'Seat of Wisdom Building', which serves as the Philosophy Department, was designed with the necessary facilities and staff to appropriate the activities of the clinic. Since then, students' consultation rate has been on the increase — it is actually a thing of pride, and a clear sign that the good effect of the clinic is felt within. The clinic has seasoned professors and other lecturers, as well as external consultants from other relevant humanitarian fields, for service delivery of the centre.
What the Clinic Means
Philosophy Clinic grew out of curiosity for more meaningful and authentic existence and concern for the people, with the understanding that philosophical endeavour is man-oriented and that philosophy remains relevant in as much as it critically examines human activities of each age and proffers practical solutions. Philosophy is to human life what the soul is to the body. It gears towards 'healthy mind in a healthy body' (mens sana in corpore sano).
Understandably, philosophy illumines and liberates the mind. With 'clinic', one imagines health-related activities, as a clinic is understandably a health-care centre. Within the context of this logic, 'Philosophy Clinic' therefore means a milieu where man is philosophically made healthy. Here, 'philosophically' depicts using philosophical reasoning to liberate the mind by widening his horizon and sense of purpose to think and act responsibly better. This also includes equipping individuals with life-changing skills that aid them to strike a healthy balance in their dealings with life by responding positively to the challenges and opportunities of life.
Philosophy clinic considers the fact that man is constantly confronted with new situations that obviously challenge his life and dignity. It therefore seeks to respond to the existential fact that there is a very practical need for contemporary Nigerians to give more meaning to their lives amidst the turbulent moments and incessant perilous circumstances that lethargically wane the meaning of human life, which automatically filter in hopeless conditions.
It aims majorly at x-raying the individual conditions of life in order to instil courage and hope to live more meaningfully through creation and recognition of new meanings and responsible actions in life, even in worst situations despite the seemingly endless life's challenges. It intends to aid man towards a more self-discovery and to equip him with life-changing skills for constructive living. Its methods include widening the horizon of life, educating the mind to tap into the inner core and psychic power in order to mindfully, responsibly and meaningfully navigate through the struggles and adversities of life.
A More Practical Way to Philosophize
The Contemporary Necessity
The contemporary experiences of life have necessitated a more practical way to philosophize which involves a harmonious interplay of thought and action.
Philosophy Clinic is so designed as to equip the graduates well enough to serve for active roles in their various areas of commitments, in order to successfully face the challenges of real existence both during and after university studies.
The Major Role
Its major role is to offer a healthy outlook to life through creative thinking, as well as aiding critical insights into realities of life that permit healthy adaptations and well-being. It is an interplay of thought and action that renders the study of philosophy more relevant in our time, as it critically interrogates the events of life, especially the current existential experiences, through analytical insights and creative reasoning into the issues that border on human life and dignity.
The Three Dimensions of Man
Philosophy Clinic (PC) takes into consideration that man lives majorly in three different but interconnected worlds. Consequently, it bears its torchlight on the study of man from somatic, psychological and spiritual dimensions of human life and existence.
As such, it deals with the ontological nature of man, his core essence, his constitutive elements, his ultimate origin, his goal in life and his destiny. It focuses also on freedom of human will, will to meaning and meaning of life as fundamental principles of human existence, as it exposes the students to Franklian Logotherapy, theories of meaning in life and to deeper study of existential philosophy, and of course in very close relation to other philosophical disciplines. It equally treats human conscience within the context of responsibility, as it tries to analyze the content of meaningful existence and advances responsible and dignified pathways to finding meaning in life despite unavoidable sufferings and adversities of life, for promotion of human life and harmonious existence within the individual and in the larger society.
The programme is designed as a course with a counselling session. The course is a practical dimension (Philosophy in Praxis) of philosophical studies from logo-existential perspective that exposes students to a deeper concrete existential approach to life for self-help and for assisting others in purposefully facing the stark reality of human life and existence.
Existential Counselling, Meaning-Centred
The proposed philosophy clinic adopts above all the principles of existential philosophy for existential counselling. Counselling here does not involve the traditional methods of counselling such as psychological counselling, educational counselling, etc. Rather, it consists of employing existential approach to issues of life based on the freedom of will and responsibility of actions. It gears towards assisting man in widening his scope of life for better self-awareness and conscious decisions regarding his specific values in living more purposefully and giving more meaning to his life as he responds to life's challenges.
Participation Requirements
Apart from the mandatory course requirements of the students of the Philosophy Department, any student or staff who feels the need of the services of PC is allowed to meet with the clinic consultants, who decipher their existential needs and act accordingly by way of handling the client or referring him/her to the appropriate place and person.
There is no charge attached to the services offered in the clinic, as that forms part of the community services of the Department.
Job Opportunities
The participants of PC may eventually be issued a certificate of participation to enable them to set forth the mission of the PC. Interested candidates who avail themselves for three months active participation in the weekly seminar and workshops of the Clinic will equally be given a certificate of participation.
This will serve as a basis for the Logo-existential journey for the candidate, who may further engage him/herself with working with both the government and private agencies, schools and other settings where human beings exist, the youths at various levels and domains, the highly challenged, the internally displaced persons, etc.
The People Behind the Clinic
Sr. Prof. Purissima Emelda Egbekpalu
Prof. A.I. Alozie, FAPPON
Dr. R. C. Eruka
Ejike Akpa
Dr. Oparah Thaddeus
PHILOSOPHY CLINIC is a new development and perspective of the philosophic enterprise as a whole. As clinical dimension of the discipline, it aims at crystallizing the abundant resources of the philosophic endeavour into ideas, principles and methodology for direct and practical application in human conditions for the restoration of holistic existence. As a logo-existential professional outreach, PHILOSOPHY CLINIC further explores the best in the existentialist tradition in relation to concrete human conditions whereby intervention is needed to restore existential balance or functional equilibrium. The reference to CLINIC is specifically philosophic, especially in its preclusion of the denotation in the health professions. The clinical concept assumes more precision and clarity in the methodology proper to its operation. The logocentric methodology is the methodology of choice for application in the PHILOSOPHY CLINIC. The clinical application of the logocentric methodology finally results in logotherapy. The CLINIC looks forward to reaching out to the expected clientele base — young people especially University students and adolescents who are experiencing existential and developmental challenges in one form or the other — to encounter them in a spirit of freedom and non-judgmental exchange of information, mood-relaxation, self-understanding, expansion of horizons and perspectives on life, deepening of insights, dispelling of illusions and, or delusions for the sake of the overall alleviation and, or total eradication of perceived discomforting or de-stabilizing existential challenges.
Dr. Eruka C. Raphael — Head of Department & Adviser, Philosophy Clinic
PHILOSOPHY is the foundation of human Knowledge. In human history, communities and nations that have made significant advances in technology and the well-being of their citizens take their bearing from different strands of PHILOSOPHY. This is done mainly by using what is usually known as CRITICAL THINKING. Through CRITICAL THINKING and other strands in PHILOSOPHY, we realise that FACTS and THEORIES are both enveloped in numerous THEORIES. Sr. Purissima Emelda Egbekpalu (who is the main brain behind the PHILOSOPHY CLINIC) correctly quoted Friedrich Nietzsche: 'THERE ARE NO FACTS, ONLY INTERPRETATIONS.' These multiple or rival theories are also known as RECEIVED VIEWS. The PHILOSOPHY CLINIC is a unique place for sober reflection where Scientists, Lawyers, Medical professionals, Engineers, Social and Management Science practitioners (students and lecturers) who aspire to make a positive contribution in the world converge to RE-EXAMINE what we hold to be the Absolute TRUTH in all academic disciplines. Indeed, it is an outlet for intellectuals who wish to make Discoveries and Inventions in their respective fields of the Knowledge Industry, like Mathematics, Medicine, Physics, Jurisprudence, and Engineering. THE PHILOSOPHY CLINIC INVITES YOU TO COME, FOR US TO REASON TOGETHER.
Prof. Princewill I. Alozie — President, Philosophy Clinic
Philosophy clinic firmly serves the existential needs of contemporary Nigerians that incessantly call for purposeful growth and meaningful development, by assisting to give more meaning to life which leads to more authentic existence. It brings to limelight the principle of existentialism that existence precedes essence. In other words, man first came into existence through no choice of his but then shapes his life through the daily dainty free choices he makes, including transcending his predicaments and limiting existential conditions of human life. It also accentuates Logotherapy as a useful practice in harmony with philosophical rational activities. In Franklian understanding, 'man is a being whose success lies in his disposition to life.' With Sartre, he declared that in freedom, 'man invents himself, he designs his own essence.' Frankl's philosophy of logotherapy reveals that 'if there is purpose in life at all, there must be a purpose in suffering and in dying.' Based on his experience in a Nazi concentration camp, Frankl illustrated that despite all extreme conditions of life, it is still worth living — 'human being is not one thing among others; things determine each other, but man is ultimately self-determining. What he becomes — within the limits of endowment and environment — he has made out of himself.'
Sr. Dr. Purissima Emelda Egbekpalu — Director, Philosophy Clinic
The 'Philosophy Clinic' of the Department of Philosophy, Madonna University, Nigeria, is the first of its kind in the country. It offers a self-degraded candidate the opportunity to be rejuvenated and come alive and active again. It is a home for rational and natural therapy, assisting a candidate to achieve meaningful existential living. At Philosophy Clinic, candidates, especially students, are taken through a rational tour of self-discovery and recovery in the use of his/her God-given rational ability, transiting, therefore, from rational prodigality to rational sensibility. It is logotherapeutic — seeking meaning through rational healing. 'What is rational is actual and what is actual is rational' — G. W. F. Hegel.
Dr. T. A. Oparah — Administrator, Philosophy Clinic
Philosophy Clinic is an innovation from the saddle of the Department of Philosophy, Madonna University, Nigeria, to demonstrate the practical dimension of philosophy in human existential realities. It is incubated and hatched by the golden mind of a scholar of rare genius, Rev. Sr. Purissima E. Egbekpalu, as a result of her encounter with Logo-Therapy and her desire to make life a lot more meaningful to our teeming youths who seem to have lost hope in life. Human existence is characterized by innumerable challenges, as a result of which many are beginning to doubt the meaningfulness of their existence. At Philosophy Clinic, we do not reason for you because you are you; we rather teach you how to reason, we assist you in redirecting your thought so that where you see negativity, you begin to see positivity; where you see hopelessness, you begin to see hope; where you see meaninglessness, you begin to see meaning; ultimately, when you see misery, you begin to see happiness. We encourage activity not passivity; working not idleness; and attraction to life not revulsion.
Ejike Akpa — Coordinator, Philosophy Clinic
Staff, Officers & Consultants
Academic Staff of the Clinic
- 1
Prof. Princewill I. Alozie
- 2
Sr. Prof. Purissima Emelda Egbekpalu
- 3
Dr. Raphael C. Eruka
- 4
Dr. Thaddeus A. Oparah
- 5
Ejike Akpa
- 6
Dr. Martins S. Udom
- 7
John Paul A. Ugwu
Principal Officers of the Clinic
- H
Head of Department of Philosophy — Dr. R. C. Eruka
- P
President — Prof. A.I. Alozie, FAPPON, PhD (Philosophy), LLM
- D
Director — Sr. Prof. Purissima Emelda Egbekpalu, BA, MA, PhD (Philosophy), PGD, MSc (Psychology), VFI Certificate in Logotherapy
- C
Coordinator — Ejike Akpa, BA, MA
- A
Administrator — Dr. Oparah Thaddeus, BA, MA, PhD
External Consultants
- L
Legal Consultant — Prof. P.E.O. Oguno, LLB, LLM, PhD
- C
Clinical Consultant (Psychologist) — Valentine Ucheagwu, PhD, MRIPsych., Senior Lecturer, Clinical/Counselling Psychology and Behaviour Neuroscience, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
- S
Social Welfare Consultant — Sr. Dr. Paula Ude, DSW, LMSW, Asst. Professor of Social Work and Sociology, Concord University, USA
Philosophy Clinic Board
- 1
The President of Philosophy Clinic
- 2
Director of Philosophy Clinic — Chairman
- 3
The Coordinator of Philosophy Clinic
- 4
The Administrator of Philosophy Clinic
- 5
All Full-Time Teaching Staff
- 6
The External Consultants of the Clinic
- 7
The Secretary
Reason Together, Find Meaning & Purpose
The Philosophy Clinic invites you to come, for us to reason together. Discover a more meaningful, authentic and fulfilled existence through logo-existential counselling and the practical dimension of philosophy.
"He who has a why to live can bear with almost any how." — Nietzsche