A Nigerian academic, Professor Abiodun Alao will today deliver a professorial inaugural lecture at King’s College, University of London, making him first black African scholar to deliver such lecture since the school was established in 1829.
Alao is a professor of African Studies and was conferred with professorial title about two years ago alongside his Nigerian counterpart in the institution’s African Leadership Centre, Professor Funmi Olonisakin, making them first black Africans to attain professorial cadre at the institution since his establishment.
Professor Abiodun Alao is set to break a 187-year record in London university.
The appointments have been confirmed in a letter by the institution’s president and principal, Professor Edward Byrne AC, which justified their elevations at the instance of their contributions to African peace and security.
Alao, in a statement had published several single-authored books, well-researched journal articles and occasional papers, among others, whose 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 recognised academic articles and Encyclopaedia entries he had published, all of which were assessed to accord him professorial tittle.
As an academic tradition globally, the statement disclosed that the Nigerian academic would Wednesday deliver his inaugural lecture, which he 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, which will hold 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 from his academic contributions, Alao had 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 therefore 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 Anan 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.”
Ranking among the top 20 universities in the world, King’s College London holds a unique position in global scholarship, which the statement said, was evident in the landmark research works the institution’s professors and alumni had conducted since its establishment several decades ago.
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