Akanidomo Ibanga

Background

I hold a B.Sc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Nigeria; an M.Sc (Clinical Psychology) from the University of Benin and more recently a PhD in Psychology from the University of Birmingham. I have held positions in tertiary institutions (both as a senior lecturer and as a researcher), and several non-governmental organisations in three different countries. My interest in alcohol/drug research led to my working towards and becoming the Deputy Director at the Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA). Here we raised awareness of the alcohol and drug situation in the country; helping interested groups and governments to develop a response. I joined the Alcohol, Drugs and the Family Research Group in 2004 and played a leading role in the development of a web-based self-help resource for family members who were affected by someone else’s drinking.

International Work

My first international work was as the country director for Nigerian in the Gender, Alcohol and Culture: an International Research (GENACIS). This study currently involves more than 36 different countries. It is a household survey examining the situational and familial context of an individual’s drinking/drug use as well as its health, social, life style and related experiences. I also took part in a later collaborative effort that emerge from this work; it involved collection of qualitative data on ‘Intimate partner violence and the role of alcohol in 8 different countries. More recent is the international research on ‘Harm to Others’ research where I have been appointed as a consultant to the Nigerian arm of this project.

I am currently collaborating with researchers in Nigeria and Uganda gathering preliminary data on experience of people living with an alcohol or drug-misusing relative. This will help expand our knowledge of the applicability of the ADF model of understanding of alcohol and drug use within the family, and the effectiveness of the 5-Step Method in supporting concerned family members within these cultures.

Peer-Review Journal publications

• Astudillo, M., Connor, J., Roiblatt, R., Ibanga, A.K.J & Gmel, G., (In press). Influence from friends to drink more or drink less: A cross-national comparison, Addictive Behaviors.
• Obot, I., Ibanga, A., and Zamani, A. (2012). Substance use and HIV/AIDS in Africa. In Obot, I.S., Ibanga, A.J., & Zamani, A., (eds) Substance Abuse and HIV/ AIDS in Africa (pp 1-6) . Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse, Uyo, Nigeria.
• Ibanga A.K.J. (2012). Sexual Victimization, partner aggression and alcohol consumption. In Obot, I.S., Ibanga, A.J., & Zamani, A., (eds) Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS in Africa (pp 133 – 148) . Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse, Uyo, Nigeria.
• Ibanga, A. (2011). Sexual victimization, partner aggression and alcohol consumption in Nigeria. African Journal of Drug and Alcohol Studies, 10 (1), 17 – 28.
• Ibanga, A. (2010). Web-based 5-Step Method for Affected Families. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 17 (SI), 129 – 153.
• Ibanga, A.J, Adetula, V., & Dagona, Z. (2009). Social pressures to drink or drink a little more than intended – the Nigerian experience. Contemporary Drug Problems, 36 , 111-135.