In the last analysis he defined a historian as a clinical student of human experience who seeks to tell the story as it is and to explain it.

His formal education began in 1944 at Methodist Central School, Ihube where he came under the influence of remarkably dedicated teachers.

The most outstanding of them was Mr. Oji Iheukumere, the head teacher, a native of Uzuakoli, in today's Abia State who was a noted church musician and disciplinarian.

[citation needed] Adiele Afigbo had not only graduated top of his class, but also was the first among his colleagues to complete his PhD.

[1] On obtaining the PhD, Afigbo was appointed a lecturer in history, a position he held for two years before fleeing to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in the wake of the Nigerian civil war.

[2] He held the following public appointments among others – pioneer Director of Research at the National Institute for policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos; Commissioner first for Education and then for Local Government in the Government of Imo State; Chairman of the Michael Okpara College of Agriculture, Umuagwo in Imo State and Sole Administrator of the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri.

Thus, for instance, he used a detailed study of the textile process in Southern Nigeria to throw much helpful light on the socio-cultural dynamics of the societies of the region.

[citation needed] Afigbo broke away from the action-reaction thesis that ruled the new African historiography when he joined the history profession.

Adiele Eberechukwu Afigbo died in Enugu, Nigeria in the early hours of Monday, 9 March 2009 after a brief illness.