Claude Ake

Claude Ake was a Nigerian political scientist from Omoku, in Rivers State, Nigeria. Ake was considered "one of Africa's foremost political philosophers." He specialized in political economy, political theory, and development studies and is well known for his research on development and democracy in Africa. He was professor of political economy and dean of the University of Port Harcourt's Faculty of Social Sciences for some years in the 1970s and 1980s after having taught at Columbia University, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1966. He held various academic positions at institutions around the world, including at Yale University, University of Nairobi (Kenya), University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and University of Port Harcourt (Nigeria). He was active in Nigerian politics, a critic of corruption and authoritarian rule in Africa. His permanent home was in Port Harcourt.

18 February 1939

Born on the same birth day (18 February): Alex Ríos • Andy Moog • Audre Lorde • Charles M. Schwab • Eric Gairy • Jason Maxiell • Jermaine Jenas • Johnny Hart • Len Deighton • Lewis Armistead • Michelangelo Cerquozzi • Pee Wee King • Phillip DeFreitas • Queen Komal of Nepal

Born in the same month (February 1939): Adolfo Azcuna • Adrienne Clarkson • Barry Mann • Dale T. Mortensen • Ekaterina Maximova • Jackie Burroughs • Jamal Nazrul Islam • Lee Shaffer • Mahala Andrews • Michael Cimino • Mike Farrell • Ray Manzarek