Fort Pierce, FL – June 6, 2025
In recognition of his outstanding leadership, commitment to family, and service to community, Erhabor Ighodaro, Ph.D., will be honored as the 2025 Father of the Year at the 34th Annual Father of the Year Gala, hosted by the International Father’s Association. The black-tie event will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Florida, and will celebrate fathers who have made a transformative impact in their families and broader communities.
At the heart of Dr. Ighodaro’s many accomplishments is his unwavering devotion to his family. He is married to the Honorable Shannan “Lady Shannan” Ighodaro, an accomplished professional, politician, and community advocate in her own right. Together, they are the proud parents of twin daughters; Esosa and Idia, who are a constant source of inspiration and motivation in his life. As a father, Dr. Ighodaro exemplifies the balance of nurturing, guidance, and discipline—instilling in his daughters the values of faith, education, and service.
Dr. Ighodaro, a distinguished educator, public servant, and civic leader, holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University’s Department of Conflict Resolution Studies (DCRS), College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS). His career spans decades of advocacy for educational equity, youth development, and social justice.
A former Miami-Dade public school teacher and Chief of Staff to the late Dr. Robert Ingram of the Miami-Dade School Board, Dr. Ighodaro currently serves as Executive Director of the Dr. Robert B. Ingram Foundation. Through the foundation’s acclaimed READ to LEAD program, he has awarded over 5,000 scholarships to students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, supporting educational tours of key Black history sites in Florida. He also leads the Ingram Africa School Alliance “Rites of Passage” Project, which connects students with cultural and educational opportunities in Africa.
Dr. Ighodaro is the Founder and CEO of Oracle Consulting Group, a conflict resolution firm, and serves as Professor of Criminal Justice at Florida Memorial University. He is co-author of Curriculum Violence: America’s New Civil Rights Issue (2010), a groundbreaking publication on education reform and cultural responsiveness. He is also a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., where he continues to uphold the values of scholarship, perseverance, uplift, and manhood.
His numerous awards and recognitions include the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Hall of Honor Award (2016), the Nathan W. Collier Meritorious Service Award from Florida Memorial University (2018), the Miami-Dade County Pillars Award (2012), and a place on Legacy Magazine’s list of the “50 Most Powerful Blacks in Miami-Dade County” (2016). He has served as President of the Nigerian American Foundation and the Rotary Club of Opa-Locka/Miami Gardens, and is actively involved in civic organizations including the NAACP, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project.
As the former Vice Mayor of Miami Gardens, Dr. Ighodaro spearheaded numerous initiatives promoting diversity, inclusion, and community well-being. From launching the city’s Special Olympics and SAVIOR anti-violence campaign to establishing its first radio show and monthly town hall “Uni’Tea,” he has consistently championed unity and empowerment.
“Fatherhood is not only biological—it’s spiritual, communal, and generational,” Dr. Ighodaro has said. “To be a father is to be a builder—of character, of hope, of the future.”
On June 14, 2025, the International Father’s Association will formally recognize Dr. Ighodaro’s remarkable legacy of leadership and love, bestowing upon him the title of Father of the Year—a fitting honor for a man who has dedicated his life to lifting others and lighting the path forward.
About the International Father’s Association
The International Father’s Association celebrates fathers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their families and communities. Its annual Father of the Year Gala honors leaders whose lives reflect the values of integrity, service, and compassion.
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