Nigerian scholar named Rhodes Professor at Oxford University
abiodun KOMOLAFE
Nigerian scholar named Rhodes Professor at Oxford University
Oxford University has announced the appointment of a U.S.-based Nigerian, Wale Adebanwi, to the prestigious Rhodes Professorship in Race Relations in the School of African and Interdisciplinary Area Studies.
The appointment was recently announced in the university gazette.
Mr. Adebanwi who is currently a professor at the University of California, Davis, United States, will also be a Fellow of the St. Anthony’s College, Oxford effective July 1.
Oxford University is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world’s second oldest university in continuous operation. The university has produced 28 Nobel laureates, 27 British Prime Ministers and many foreign heads of state.
The Rhodes Professorship in Race Relations is named for Cecil Rhodes, British businessman, mining magnate and politician in South Africa who served as Prime Minister of Cape Colony from 1890-1896. The professorship was established by the Rhodesian Selection Trust Mining Company in 1954 at Oxford.
Mr. Adebanwi is the first black scholar to be appointed to the endowed Chair since it was created more than 60 years ago. He was preceded by three distinguished scholars.
The new Rhodes Professor was a Bill and Melinda Gates Scholar at Cambridge University. He holds two PhDs, one in political science from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and the other in social anthropology from the University of Cambridge, UK.
In September 2014, alongside three other former Gates Scholars, his “amazing success” since graduating from Cambridge was acknowledged by the world’s richest man, Bill Gates, who funded his scholarship at Cambridge more than a decade ago. Gates’s acknowledgement of Mr. Adebanwi was part of the video message he sent to a gathering of current and former Gate Scholars at Cambridge University during the Gates Cambridge Biennial 2016.
Mr. Adebanwi has published widely in the areas of nationalism and ethnic Studies, media and communication, corruption and politics, democracy and democratization, cultural politics, spatial politics, urban studies, and social theory and social thought. In his most recent book Nation as Grand Narrative: The Nigerian Press and the Politics of Meaning, published in 2016, Mr. Adebanwi focuses his multi-disciplinary scholarship on salient issues in Nigeria’s troubled history, examining how debates in the newspaper press shaped the narratives as well as the configuration of power. His influential book, Yoruba Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency was published by Cambridge University in 2014. His 2012 book Authority Stealing: Anti-corruption War and Democratic Politics in Post-Military Nigeria was selected as one of the three “Best Books on Africa in 2013” by the journal, Foreign Affairs.
The newly-appointed Rhodes Professor is the editor or co-editor of 10 books. He has served as co-editor of Journal of Contemporary African Studies and is currently co-editor of Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. Adebanwi, who was formerly a lecturer in political science at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, is a visiting professor at the Institute for Social and Economic Research at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. He has held visiting fellowships at St Anthony’s College, Oxford, and the Centre for African Studies in Leiden, The Netherlands, and a Rockefeller fellowship for Academic Writing Residency at its Bellagio Centre, Italy. In 2005, he was a co-winner of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Research grant.
Previously, Mr. Adebanwi served as reporter, writer and columnist for various publications in Nigeria, among them Nigerian Tribune, The Punch and TheNEWS.
abiodun KOMOLAFE
Tinubu congratulates Adebanwi
All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has congratulated Nigerian scholar, Prof. Wale Adebanwi, over his appointment as Rhodes Professor in Race Relations at the School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
He said with his appointment to the prestigious professorial chair, Adebanwi had made Nigeria and Africa proud.
Tinubu, who disclosed that the scholar had related closely with him, said he remains proud of Adebanwi and his academic achievements.
In a statement released at the weekend by his Media Office, the former governor said: “I congratulate you on your appointment to the prestigious Rhodes Professorship in Race Relations at the School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
“You represent a new generation of Nigerian intellectuals who have refused to be slowed down by any obstacle. But are bold, courageous and with a knack for intellectual curiosity.
“Your love for Nigeria is never in doubt and each time we speak during your visit to Nigeria, our conversations and atimes arguments center around how Nigeria can attain true greatness.
“You have set a high standard and record as the first black African academic to be appointed to that prestigious chair since its creation.
”Adebanwi, you have always distinguished yourself as a scholar of note.” As someone who has related closely with me, you have made me proud. You have made Nigeria proud. You have put Africa on the map of honour and pride.
“Thank you Adebanwi”.
Nigerian scholar named Rhodes Professor at Oxford University
abiodun KOMOLAFE
Adebanwi’s appointment, hope for Nigeria – Mimiko
*Adebanwi
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has described the appointment of Professor Wale Adebanwi as a Rhodes Professor in Race Relations in the School of Inter Disciplinary Area Studies at the University of Oxford as signifying hope in, and prospect for, the Nigerian State and her education. Mimiko in a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Eni Akinsola said the trajectory of his academic career shows that hard work, dedication and resilience have always brought, and will always bring, out the best in the people and the country as exemplified by the exploits of Adebanwi.
“Professor Adebanwi is a product of Nigeria’s education, warts and all. “Through hard work, a never say die spirit and unwavering scholarship, he has distinguished himself sufficiently to be singled out for a professorial chair in Oxford University.
“His appointment signifies hope in, and prospect for, Nigeria and her education. It is also an inspiration to younger ones who may wish to pursue careers in the academics,” Mimiko said.
The Ondo Governor said the people of Ondo State identifies with him on his appointment and wish him success in his new position. “The trajectory of his academic career shows that hard work, dedication and resilience have always brought, and will always bring, out the best in the people and the country as exemplified by the exploits of Adebanwi.
“We are happy on account of his success and congratulate the distinguished professor on his achievements. Though he is now a global citizen, we salute our own son, Wale Adebanwi,” Mimiko concluded.
On 16 Jan 2017, at 00:28, abiodun KOMOLAFE ijeb...@yahoo.co.uk [TalkNigeria] <TalkN...@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Tinubu congratulates Adebanwi
All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has congratulated Nigerian scholar, Prof. Wale Adebanwi, over his appointment as Rhodes Professor in Race Relations at the School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
He said with his appointment to the prestigious professorial chair, Adebanwi had made Nigeria and Africa proud.
Tinubu, who disclosed that the scholar had related closely with him, said he remains proud of Adebanwi and his academic achievements.
In a statement released at the weekend by his Media Office, the former governor said: “I congratulate you on your appointment to the prestigious Rhodes Professorship in Race Relations at the School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
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On Jan 10, 2017, at 12:57 AM, 'abiodun KOMOLAFE' via AfricanWorldForum <africanw...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Nigerian scholar named Rhodes Professor at Oxford University
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