A lecturer in the Department of History, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Ajiola Felix, has emerged winner of Rahamon Bello Award for Best PhD Thesis in African studies.

The award-winning thesis is titled “Cocoa production and rural development in Idanre, Southwestern Nigeria, 1900-1996”. It was written under the supervision of Prof Olutayo Adesina in fulfilment of Ajiola’s doctorate degree in History at the University of Ibadan. A cash prize of $1,000 was presented to him at the grand ceremony.

The event was organised by The Institute of African and Diaspora Studies (IADS) in UNILAG.

He was unanimously selected as the overall winner among 24 applicants. The selection process was independently carried out by three renowned academics from United Kingdom, Kenya and Nigeria.

Dr. Joseph Kunnuji, a Post-doctoral Fellow at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, emerged second with a PhD Thesis in Ethnomusicology, titled, “A chronicle of cultural transformation: Ethnography of Badagry Ogu musical practices,” supervised by Prof. Sylvia Brainders, at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Dr. Louis Kusi Frimpong, a lecturer at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana, came third with PhD Thesis in Geography and Resource Development, titled, “Fear of crime in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis exploring the role of the built environment and community social organisation,” supervised by Prof. Martin Oteng-Ababio, Prof. Charles Wrangley-Asante and Prof. George Owusu at the University of Ghana, Legon.

Also given special recognition for his work was Dr. Mark Nartey of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, whose PhD thesis was on “Discourse and political myth-making: A critical discourse study of Nkrumaism.”

IADS Director, Prof Muyiwa Falaiye, in his remarks, said the ‘initiative was aimed at encouraging and appreciating intellectuals, whose doctoral theses address African and diaspora issues while promoting intellectual and multi-disciplinary research works in African Studies.

He added that 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 problems of the people.