IADS

On August 9, 2017 IADS UNILAG, was inaugurated, following a series of events attended by staff and students including invited guests and the media. The former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello accompanied by the University Management was on hand to unveil the IADS signpost at the J. P. Clark Centre. This was followed by an inauguration lecture entitled “The Global Migration Crisis: Identity, Ethical and Economic Entailment”, which was delivered by Prof. Abolade Adeniji of the Department of History and International Studies, Lagos State University.

Goal

The Overriding goal of the Institute is to provide a platform for all academics in Nigeria, Africa and the Diaspora to discuss and proffer solutions to the problems that we confront as a people. The Institute also aims to bring all scholars and persons interested in Africa and Diaspora Studies together.

Objectives

To Provide a forum or platform for research into African cultue, language, history, politics, social life, economics, geography, religion, medicine and pharmacognosy.
Raise grants in furtherance of research about Africa.
Provide a platform for the cross fertilization of ideas on the African condition in a multidisciplinary manner.
Create awareness on the need to have detailed studies of the African situation.
Establish a platform for capacity building and mentorship through seminars, lectures, teaching and research.
Teach aspects of African cultures from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Activities

The Institute plays host to researchers from all over the world in collaboration with other faculties across the University. Apart from interactive sessions through seminars, symposia, exhibitions and guest lectures, it provides visiting academics in residence accommodation on special arrangements with Faculty of Arts. Such issues as democracy in Africa, the African Diaspora, reparations for slavery, poverty, fiscal federalism, culture and national development, language development and the philosophy behind national integration, constitute core issues of investigation at the Institute.

There are also collaborative researches between staff of Unilag-UWI and visiting researchers on areas of mutual interest. In furtherance to the realization of its objectives, the Institute is also in contact with Carnegie, Ford Foundations as well as other Research/Funding Agencies on possible areas of collaboration. In fact, the Institute serves as a rallying point for all researchers in African and Diaspora Studies.