Julius Ihonvbere is currently an elected member in Nigeria’s National Assembly representing Owan Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives where he is also Chairman, House Committee on Basic Education and Services. Prior to being elected, he served as Secretary to the Government of Edo State and Chairman of the State’s Strategic Planning Team.

He was previously Special Advisor to the Nigerian President on Program and Policy Monitoring. Between 1984 and 86 he served first as Secretary to the Academic Staff Union of Universities and later as branch Vice Chairman and Chairman. In 1990 he was forced into exile by the military and he returned to Toronto, Canada as a Visiting Professor of African Politics.

In 1991 he moved to the United States of America, where he was an Associate Professor of Political Science, Houston-Tillotson College, Austin, Texas and Professor of Government at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Ihonvbere has an extensive publication history including numerous books, chapters, and over 70 refereed academic papers published to date.

As a political scientist he obtained his BA (Combined Honours) in History and Political Science from the University of Ife, MA in International Affairs from The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada and PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto, Canada.