On April 26, Florence Nwando Onwusi Didigu, 73, defended her dissertation to earn her doctoral degree in communication, culture and media studies.

Her dissertation and future book titled, “Igbo Collective Memory of the Nigeria – Biafra War (1967-1970): Reclaiming Forgotten Women’s Voices and Building Peace through a Gendered Lens,” is a reflection of the Igbo women who, like herself, survived the war.

Carolyn Byerly, Didigu’s advisor and chair of the Communication, Culture and Media Studies doctoral program, noticed the excellence within her mentee noting that “she embodies endurance and intellectual determination.

“I admire the way she delved inside the most painful period of her life to find the focus of her research on women, war and peace,” Byerly said.

The Howard University Communication, Culture and Media Studies Doctoral Program provides doctoral-level studies leading to the doctorate which focuses on communication problems of importance in an emerging digital and multicultural world.