A
Nigerian academic, Professor Abiodun Alao, will today deliver the inaugural
lecture at King’s College, University of London, making him the first
black African scholar to deliver such lecture since the institution was
established in 1829.
Alao, a
professor of African Studies, was conferred with professorial title about 2
years ago alongside his Nigerian counterpart in the institution’s African
Leadership Centre, Prof. Funmi Olonisakin, making them first black Africans to
attain professorial cadre at the institution since its establishment.
The
appointments have been confirmed in a letter by the institution’s
President and Principal, Prof.
According to a statement obtained by Vanguard yesterday, Alao
had published several single-authored books, well-researched journal articles
and occasional papers, among others, which findings and recommendations
“have largely helped establish peace and boost security in many African countries.”
In an institution that produced 12 Nobel Laureates among its
professors, the statement said Alao had distinguished himself, citing about 100
widely recognized 100 academic articles and encyclopedia entries he had
published, all of which were assessed to accord him professorial title.
As an academic tradition globally, the statement said the
Nigerian academic would today deliver his inaugural lecture, titled, “Africa: A
Voice to be Heard, Not a Problem to be Solved” at the Edward Safra Lecture
Theatre at the college’s main campus.
The statement said the inaugural lecture, holding at the
institution’s Edward Lecture Theatre on the
Strand, “will be attended by many people from different parts
of the world, including from the
United States, Australia, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.”
Aside his academic contributions, Alao joined the long list
of globally renowned academics the institution had produced and whose research
works had produced answers to different challenges of humanity and society
since its establishment.
The statement pointed diverse assignments Alao had undertaken
for international institution, which
include the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), European
Union (EU), World Bank, ECOWAS and for many individual countries in Africa
and beyond.
It added that Alao was part of the 4-person team that
undertook “a comprehensive threat assessment for Rwanda immediately after the
1994 genocide and was on the team of academic experts that advised former
UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan on the civil war in Sierra Leone.
“He also co-authored the Concept Note for the Common Defence
and Security Policy for the Africa
Union and was the co-author of the first post-Civil War
National Security Strategy Framework for
Liberia. He was a member of the team that worked on the
Development of Donor Countries
Effectiveness in Fragile States, the statement said.
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