Abioseh Nicol
Encyclopedia
Abioseh Davidson Nicol was a Sierra Leone
an academic, diplomat, physician, writer and poet. He has been considered as one of Sierra Leone’s most educated citizens of recent times, as he was able to secure degrees on the art, science and commercial disciplines.
, the capital city of Sierra Leone. His family belonged to the Creole
minority who were an educated and elite ex-slave community. He attended primary school in Nigeria
and, in 1946, graduated from Christ's College, Cambridge University
in the United Kingdom
. He earned his Ph.D. in 1958 and lectured at the University of Ibadan
in Nigeria.
in Freetown
(left in 1966) as well as a member of the Public Service Commission (left in 1968). Nicol continued his administrative career at the university level in Sierra Leone as first the chairman (1964–1969) then as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sierra Leone
(1966–1969).
of Sierra Leone to the United Nations
, which he served as until 1971. In that year, Nicol became the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, which ended in 1972. In 1972, Nicol became the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
under Austria
n Kurt Waldheim
, which he served as until 1982. While serving as Under-Secretary General, Nicol also served as head of UNITAR
.
at the University of California
(1987–1988) and University of South Carolina
(1990–1991). Nicol retired in 1991 at the age of 67 to London. He died three years later at the age of 70 in the United Kingdom.
, an early Sierra Leonean author and one of the founders of African Nationalism
. His last piece of published work was "Creative Women" in 1982.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
an academic, diplomat, physician, writer and poet. He has been considered as one of Sierra Leone’s most educated citizens of recent times, as he was able to secure degrees on the art, science and commercial disciplines.
Early life
Nicol was born as Davidson Sylvester Hector Willoughby Nicol in 1924 in FreetownFreetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
, the capital city of Sierra Leone. His family belonged to the Creole
Sierra Leone Creole people
The Sierra Leone Creoles, or Krios, are an ethnic group in Sierra Leone, descendants of West Indian slaves from the Caribbean, primarily from Jamaica; freed African American slaves from the Thirteen Colonies resettled from Nova Scotia; and Liberated Africans from various parts of Africa...
minority who were an educated and elite ex-slave community. He attended primary school in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and, in 1946, graduated from Christ's College, Cambridge University
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He earned his Ph.D. in 1958 and lectured at the University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
in Nigeria.
Academia
Beginning in 1960, Nicol was the first native principal of the prestigious Fourah Bay CollegeFourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College is the oldest university college in West Africa. It is located atop Mount Aureol in Freetown, Sierra Leone...
in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
(left in 1966) as well as a member of the Public Service Commission (left in 1968). Nicol continued his administrative career at the university level in Sierra Leone as first the chairman (1964–1969) then as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sierra Leone
University of Sierra Leone
The University of Sierra Leone is the name of the former unitary public university system in Sierra Leone, which, as of May 2005, was reconstitued into the individual colleges of Fourah Bay College and Njala University. It is now affiliated to many colleges in Sierra Leone.-See also:* Fourah Bay...
(1966–1969).
Diplomacy
Nicol left academia in 1969 to become the Permanent RepresentativeAmbassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of Sierra Leone to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, which he served as until 1971. In that year, Nicol became the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, which ended in 1972. In 1972, Nicol became the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
An Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations is a senior official within the United Nations System, normally appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Secretary-General for a renewable term of four years....
under Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Kurt Waldheim
Kurt Waldheim
Kurt Josef Waldheim was an Austrian diplomat and politician. Waldheim was the fourth Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1972 to 1981, and the ninth President of Austria, from 1986 to 1992...
, which he served as until 1982. While serving as Under-Secretary General, Nicol also served as head of UNITAR
UNITAR
The acronym UNITAR may refer to:* the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.* Universiti Tun Abdul Razak, an institution of tertiary education in Malaysia.In music:*The unitar, a one stringed guitar...
.
Return to academia and retirement
From 1987 until retiring in 1991, Nicol served as a visiting professor of International StudiesInternational studies
International Studies generally refers to the specific University Degrees and courses which are concerned with the study of ‘the major political, economic, social, cultural and sacral issues that dominate the international agenda’...
at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
(1987–1988) and University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
(1990–1991). Nicol retired in 1991 at the age of 67 to London. He died three years later at the age of 70 in the United Kingdom.
Nicol's writings
Beginning in 1965 with "Two African Tales", Nicol was a published author of short stories, poetry, music, academic literature and a biography of Africanus HortonAfricanus Horton
Africanus Horton , also known as James Beale, was a Creole African nationalist writer and an esteemed Medical Surgeon in the British Army from Freetown, Sierra Leone....
, an early Sierra Leonean author and one of the founders of African Nationalism
African nationalism
African nationalism is the nationalist political movement for one unified Africa, or the less significant objective of the acknowledgment of African tribes by instituting their own states, as well as the safeguarding of their indigenous customs...
. His last piece of published work was "Creative Women" in 1982.