Ex-The Guardian Otiono named director at Canadian varsity
A former journalist with The Guardian newspaper, Nduka Otiono, has been appointed Director at the Institute of African Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
The Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Pauline Rankin, who confirmed this in a statement, yesterday, said the appointment, which is for a three-year term, will take effect from July 1.
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. Photo/Studyabroadshiksha
While announcing the ex-journalist as the next director of the institute, Rankin noted that Otiono, who is an associate professor in the institute, has contributions that cut across creative writing, cultural studies, oral performance and literature in Africa, and postcolonial studies.
“His recent publications include the co-edited volume of essays, Polyvocal Bob Dylan: Music, Performance, Literature (Palgrave Macmillan 2019) and DisPlace: The Poetry of Nduka Otiono (Wilfrid Laurier University Press 2021),” he said.
In his reaction to the appointment, Otiono congratulated the management of the university for finding him worthy to lead the institute.
“I humbly embrace this appointment and call to serve as the new Director of our beloved Institute of African Studies at Carleton University, Canada’s foremost Institute of African Studies.
“I thank the hiring committee and the University administration for choosing me to lead our great Institute at this critical juncture in its history. I thank my colleagues and our passionate students whose confidence in my work continues to inspire me to excel.
“I would also like to acknowledge the endless love from my family without which this Canadian journey would have been a lonesome walk on the snow. Finally, as we say as people of faith and in Niger lingo, To God be the glory.”
Otiono joined the University in 2013 as Assistant Professor at the Institute of African Studies, after leaving Nigeria in 2006 to obtain a Ph.D. in English from the University of Alberta.
