Two Nigerian Scholars Secured Prestigious British Academy Global Professorship
In a recent announcement, the British Academy unveiled its prestigious global professorship for 2023, naming two esteemed Nigerian academics, Olutayo Adesina and Abubakar Sani, as recipients. Adesina, a distinguished professor of history at the University of Ibadan, and Sani, formerly head of the department of archaeology and heritage studies at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), stand among the eight esteemed scholars chosen for this esteemed honor.
This coveted professorship offers a significant opportunity for scholars to conduct pioneering research while contributing to the academic landscape of the United Kingdom. Among the diverse array of topics, Adesina and Sani will delve into crucial areas such as food system models to mitigate climate challenges and the exploration of West African community histories utilizing museum collections.
Joining them in this intellectual endeavour are scholars Tetyana Antsupova, Paul Behrens, Sandrine Berges, Karine Chemla, Saloumeh Gholami, and Ayelet Landau Each recipient brings a wealth of expertise and a unique perspective to their respective research projects.
Adesina, who also serves as the president of the Society of Nigerian Archivists, plans to delve into the intricate interplay between nationalist historiography, academic social science, and vernacular knowledge as mutually constitutive social epistemologies His research aims to shed light on the influence of indigenous epistemologies on the work of academic historians and social scientists at the University of Ibadan.
Meanwhile, Sani, a deputy director at the ABU Zaria Institute for Development Research and Training, envisions a project that integrates archaeology, museum practice, and stakeholder engagement to examine large and under-researched collections from significant Nigerian sites. By leveraging archaeological, ethnographic, and archival data from British and Nigerian museums, Sani hopes to unveil new insights into African history and research collaborations between the UK and Nigeria
The British Academy has allocated a substantial grant of £900,000 to each awardee to facilitate the execution of their ambitious projects, which are anticipated to span four years. Through academic publications, online resources, exhibitions, and outreach efforts in both the UK and Nigeria, the scholars aim to enrich scholarly discourse and foster a greater understanding of global historical narratives.
Nice one
This is an exciting news, congratulations to both of them, I pray for a successful research, can’t wait for the new insight that will be unfolded.