Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert :: Personal Website

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Isaac Olawale

Albert

Researcher | Consultant | Writer | Lecturer

Isaac Olawale Albert is a Nigerian Professor of African History, Peace and Conflict Studies and the pioneer Director of the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He was the Director of the University’s Institute of African Studies from August 2010 to July 2013.

Education »

Academic

Ph.D. African Studies(History), University of Ibadan, 1994
M.A. African Studies(History), University of Ibadan, 1991
B.A. Hons. (History), University of Ibadan, 1985
Higher School Certificate, 1981
West African School Certificate, 1977

Professional

Certificate of attendance, Folklore Fellows’ Summer School for the study of folklore and traditional culture, University of Turku, Finland August 2-14,1993
Associate Membership Certificate, The Folklore Fellows, an international network of folklorists instituted by the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, Helsinki, Finland, August 11,1993
Certificate of Participation, Course on Practical Conflict-Handling Skills organised by Responding to Conflict (Birmingham), Academic Associates (Lagos) and SEMA Limited (Kaduna) in conjunction with The British Council and The British High Commission (Nigeria) held at the University of Lagos, Nigeria from 19 May to 6 June 1996
Certificate of Attendance, "Ethnic Conflict in the Contemporary World: A Research Training Course" (a.ka. the First INCORE School for Ethnic Conflict Training) Organised by Joint Initiative on Conflict Resolution and Ethnicity (INCORE)/ United Nations University (UNU), Aberfoyle House, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland 9-20 September 1996
Certificate of Attendance, Corps of Mediators Training Workshop for Community Mediation and Conflict Resolution, organised by Academic Associates Lagos and Responding to Conflict, Birmingham, England under the sponsorship of the British High Commission and British Council, Training and Conference Centre, Ogere, 26-30 May 1997
Certificate of Participation, Third International Leadership Training in Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping, International Leadership Academy, United Nations University, Amman, Jordan September 22 to November 2, 1999
Participation in the Training Course on (1) Designing Early Warning Systems (2) Post-Conflict Peacebuilding and Reconciliation, organized by the Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution, California State University, Sacramento (USA) in collaboration with The World Peace Fund, Washington DC, November/December 2001

Work Experience ⟩

Junior Research Fellow, July 1993
Research Fellow II, February 1994
Research Fellow I, November 1995
Senior Research Fellow, October 1999
Reader (Associate Professor), October 2003
Professor, October 2006
Country Director, IDASA-Nigeria, 2006-2007 [Sabbatical Appointment]
Foundation Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Nigeria [a one-year assignment: December 1, 2008 to December 30 2009]
Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria (August 2010 to July 2013)
Director, Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan (September 26 2015 to July 30 2018)
Visiting Professor (Sabbatical Appointment), West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Accra, Ghana from 2 October 2018 to 28 July 2019
Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies (August 2 2019 – July 30 2023)

Membership of Learned and Professional Societies

Member, African Association of Political Science
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Society for Peace Studies and Practice (University of Ibadan, Nigeria) (2009 to 2015)
Regional Board Chairman, West African Network for Peacebuilding, Accra, Ghana (2015 – 2017)
Fellow, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators
Full Member, Chatham House, London (113597)
Fellow, West Africa Peacebuilders, Accra, Ghana
Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Letters
Member, Executive Committee, CODESRIA, Dakar, Senegal

Areas of Teaching / Research Interest

Social History of Africa
African Political Economy
Security Studies and Conflict Resolution
Gender Studies

Co-Curricular Activities…

Coordinator, Universities of Ibadan/Pennsylvania (USA) Summer School Programme, 1993
Coordinator, Inst. of African Studies, University of Ibadan Seminar Series,1994-1996
Secretary, University of Ibadan Working Group on Indigenous Knowledge System, 1994-1996 (University of Ibadan and Iowa Links)
Senate (Congregation) Member, University of Ibadan, 1st Sept.1994-2001
Overseas coordinator, DFID/British Council Link in Peace and Conflict Studies (University of Ibadan and INCORE, University of Ulster, Londonderry), 1996-2001
Sub-Dean (Postgraduate), Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, October 2001-2003
Founder and Co-ordinaror, Graduate Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan (MA, Mphil, and Ph.D programmes), University of Ibadan
Founding National Secretary, Conflict Resolution Stakeholders Network (CRESNET)
Founding Co-ordinator (South-west), Peace Studies Association of Nigeria (Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, The Presidency, Abuja, Nigeria)
Member, Transparency in Nigeria
Founding Board Chairman, West African Network for Peacebuilding, Nigeria (2003-2005)
Board Chairman, Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP)

Consultancy :: Achievements…

Resource Person to the MA courses of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center Accra, Ghana (2010 to date)
And some short Term Consultancies with USAID, DFID/British Council, UNDP, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Panos Institute (New York), OXFAM, Africom (Germany), IPCR The Presidency (Abuja), Institute of Security Studies Abuja etc. in Nigeria basically on issues bordering on conflict transformation
Expert Analyst, The 2nd Retreat Of The ECOWAS Council of the Wise: “Leveraging and Responding to the Current Governance, Peace, Security Challenges in the ECOWAS Region”, sponsored by the EU and GIZ, Abidjan, Cote D’ Ivoire, 29-20 April 2024
International Consultant, “Enhancing Ukrainian-African Diplomatic Engagement: Capacity-Building Workshop for Ukrainian Ambassadors”, Nairobi, Kenya, 8–10 November 2024 sponsored by CMI- Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, Finland
International Consultant, “Integrating conflict sensitivity and peacebuilding to Nigeria’s climate change national adaptation plan”, sponsored by NAP Global Network, International Institute of Sustainable Development, and UNEP (New York), September to December 2024
Research Lead, Research on “Public perception of the Nigerian Police”, “The Nigerian Police and the Police Act 2020”, and “Changes in the Nigerian Police Force since 2020”, International Alert, UK International Department, and the Nigerian Police, June 2024 to date

Recognitions, Awards, Scholarships & Fellowship

1991 Winner of the Thesis Writing Fellowship of the Council for the Development of Economic and Social Research in Africa (CODESRIA),Dakar.(M.A. Dissertation)

Winner of Chief M.K.O. Abiola Travel Fellowship for Academic Conferences, University of Ibadan, 1993/94 Session

Second time (1993) Winner of the Thesis Writing Fellowship of CODESRIA, Dakar.(PhD Thesis)

1993 Winner (with Dr. E. E. Osaghae and Mr. V. Isumonah) of the Social Science Council of Nigeria/IDRC Research Fellowship on the study of Economic Adjustment/Liberalization Policy in Nigeria

1994 Winner (with Dr.E.E. Osaghae and Mr.V. Isumonah) of the Social Science Council of Nigeria/Ford Foundation Research Fellowship on University Governance in Nigeria

British Council Visiting Scholar in Peace and Conflict Studies: Visited

Centre for the Study of Conflicts, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
Joint International Programme on Conflict Resolution and Ethnicity (INCORE), Peace Programme, Magee College Londonderry, Northern Ireland
International Alert, London
Centre for Defence Studies, King's College, University of London
Rutherford College, Centre for International Conflict Analysis, University of Kent in Canterbury (November 1995)

Winner, Senate Grants for Academic Research, University of Ibadan 2000, “The Role of Culture in Community Conflicts in Nigeria”

Principal Investigator, “Ethnicity and Human Security Project”, Centre for the Study of Ethnicity, Conflict and Human Security, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford (January 2003 – April 2007)

Federal delegate, 2014 National Conference (Nigeria), April – August, 2014

Member, Presidential Committee on the Review of Nigeria’s Defence Policy (Ministry of Defence), November 2014 to February 2015

Publications & Features

Books

(Authored/Edited/Co-edited)

Albert, I. O. (2019), Practice Guide on CSOs Engagement with Intergovernmental Organizations: A scoping of WANEP’s Partnership with ECOWAS and AU, Accra, Ghana: West Africa Network for Peacebuilding
Albert, I.O., Pate, U. and Onuoha, F. (2021), Leadership and Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Programmes, Ibadan and Abuja: Society for Peace Studies and Practice
Albert, I.O. , Badejo. B. and Yahaya, M.K. (eds. 2022), Mediating for peace in Africa: A festrichft in honour of General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, Ibadan: Bookcraft Africa

Chapters in Books

Albert, I.O. (2023), “Introduction: WANEP’s twenty years and the tasks ahead”, in Twenty Years of Peacebuilding Practice in West Africa, Accra, Ghana: The West Africa Peacebuilding Fellows and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, pp. 6-13
Albert, I.O. (2023), “Strategic Frameworks for Reforms and Coordination of Cross-Border and Internal Migration of Pastoralists”, in Kuta Yahaya and Attahiru Jega (eds.), Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts, Kano and Minna: Kano State Government and LeoBooks, pp. 157-164

Articles in Journals

Albert I. O., and Abah. J (2024). International Civil Society Organizations Humanitarian Aid in Internally Displaced Persons Camps, Benue State, North Central Nigeria: Evaluation of Contributions, Impacts and Sustainability, 2010-2023.. Humanus Discourse, VOL 4 NO 3. Retrieved from https://Humanusdicourse.com/volume-4
Albert, I. O. and Abah, J. (2024). Surviving Humanitarian Crisis in Nigeria: Coping Strategies of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State, Northcentral, Nigeria. Wukari International Studies Journal, 8(3), 165–176. Retrieved from https://wissjournals.com.ng/index.php/wiss/article/view/366

Security Studies Anecdotes

Albert, I.O. (2007), “An analysis of the inauguration speech of President Yar’Adua”, IDASA Conflict Tracking Dossier, Issue 7, July pp.1-7
Albert, I.O. (2007), “Reflections on public perceptions of the electoral reforms panel”, IDASA Conflict Tracking Dossier, Issue 8, October pp. 1- 6
Albert, I.O. (2013), “Preface”, Responsibility to protect: Training toolkit for civil society actors and multidimensional peace support personnel in West Africa, Accra, Ghana: West African Civil Society Institute pp. 4-5

Published Monographs

Albert, I.O. (2011), Pinched, ditched or jinxed: The mantra of African solutions to African problems, an inaugural lecture, University of Ibadan, Ibadan: University Press, Nigeria February 3
Albert, I.O. (2017), Beyond Nigeria’s Sambisa: Forests, Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in Africa, University of Ibadan Annual Lecture, Ibadan: University Press
Albert, I.O. (2018), Agenda 2063: Questing strategic partnership for peace, security and sustainable development in Africa, Dakar: Forum International de Dakar

Technical Reports

Isaac Olawale Albert, “Historicizing Migration” Convenor’s Report On The 2008 Extended Workshop On Social History, St. Louis, Senegal, 3-21 March, 2008 http://www.Codesria.Org/Links/Research/Sephis/Report_Ext_Worshop08.Pdf
Isaac Olawale Albert, “An alternative explanation of religious fundamentalism in northern Nigeria”, Peace and Conflict, Abuja: Heinrich Boll Stiftung, http://www.ng.boell.org/downloads/Alternative_Explanation_of_Religious_Fundamentalism_in_Nigeria(2).pdf

Global Cable Television Discussions

Inside Story: Nigeria’s fight against Boko haram – Youtube, January 2, 2012, Al Jazeera English, by Na’eem Jenah, Richard Dowden and Isaac Olawale Albert (Discussants), http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2012/01/20121274013113428.html
Inside Story: Is Nigeria’s conflict religious or political? – Youtube, July 26, 2012 Al-Jazeera English, by Darren Kew, Michael Amoah, and Isaac Olawale Albert (discussants), http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2012/07/201272683818746862.html

Major Seminar / Conference Papers

Albert, I.O. (2024), “Deepening Commitments for Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration in Rebuilding Trust in the Electoral Process and Institutions”, Keynote address at the Multi-stakeholders dialogue on rebuilding trust in the electoral process and elections”, European Union/International Press Centre, Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos 25 March
Albert, I.O. (2024), Consultant, “Enhancing Ukrainian-African Diplomatic Engagement: Capacity-Building Workshop for Ukrainian Ambassadors”, Hermosa Gardens Hotel and SPA, Nairobi, Kenya, 8-10 November (Marti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation Finland)

Professor Isaac Olawale Albert