This week, a Nigerian academic, Professor Abiodun Alao, will deliver an 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.
Edward Byrne AC, justifying their elevations based on their contributions to African peace and security.
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.
