By Rita Okoye

Globally-recognised professor of African history, Professor Toyin Falola, has been awarded a honorary Doctoral Degree of Literature (D.Litt) by the prestigious University of Lagos at the institution’s well attended 54th convocation ceremonies.

An elated Professor Falola,  who is the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair at the University of Texas at Austin, thanked the university for the honor done him, just as he stated that he would continue to contribute to knowledge sharing and the development of humanity in all ways possible.

While noting the reasons for the conferment, the university’s orator noted that “Professor Falola has developed scholarship around the promotion of African Studies from a Pan-Africanist perspective. His contributions to the development of African Studies have made him one of the most prominent pillars of the discipline, the Doyen of Nigerian history, and the Dean of African Studies. In this light, he is certainly one of the most respected scholars in the field.

“He has delivered innumerable lectures, organized and facilitated countless conferences, and written hundreds of books and articles. He is greatly sought after and has been invited to speak in over sixty-five countries and on all continents of the world. He has given lectures and keynote addresses and has been a guest speaker at over two hundred conferences. In 2023 alone, he delivered 21 major lectures, including three Convocation addresses. He has been acclaimed as one of Africa’s most preeminent public intellectuals.

“Professor Falola is, no doubt, one of the most respected scholars worldwide,and he is often referred to as the most prolific black scholar in the world. This is because of the level of his outputs and scholarship that have spread across the globe. The most erudite global African scholar of his generation, he has published over two hundred books and a similar number of essays on Africa and the African Diaspora. This erudite scholar has publicly confessed that he has lost count of the number of his published articles!

“With his high level of international engagement, commitment to and passion for scholarship, Professor Falola has become one of the most influential scholars of the 20th and 21st centuries. This eminent scholar serves as editor and member of the editorial boards of over 50 journals worldwide. He is also either the chairperson or member of prestigious book prize award committees. He belongs to and has served in many professional bodies. He was the President of the African Studies Association, the largest professional body of Africanists in North America and beyond. He served as the Vice President of the UNESCO International Scientific Committee on the Slave Route project,a Member of the Advisory Board of the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Programme,Chair of the International Advisory Board of the Thabo Mbeki School at the University of South Africa, and many more.

“He has to his name over forty lifetime career awards. He isa Life Member, Clare Hall, University of Cambridge; Smuts Fellowship University of Cambridge, England; the Top Nigerian–American Award, CANAN, New York; Pro Bene Meritis Award, University of Texas; Topp’s African–Centred Scholar of the Decade Award from Berry College; Dean’s Distinguished Scholarship and Leadership Award, Indiana University Bloomington; Distinguished Africanist Award by the ASA; Africa and the African Diaspora Excellent Leadership Award; Distinguished Africana Award; Career Research Excellence Award; Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Chair of Modern African History At-Large; Africana Studies Distinguished Global Scholar Lifetime Achievement Award, ING Professor of Excellence Award, Distinguished Lifetime Award from the Canadian African Studies Association, Certificate of Recognition, City of Lansing, 2015, The Distinguished Margaret Ekpo Merit Award for Academic Mentorship, International Day Award for Excellence, Langston University, 2009, Amistad Award for Academic Excellence in Historical Scholarship on Africa and the African Diaspora, 2007, Cheikh Anta Diop Award for Excellence in African Studies, 2006, Udogu Award for excellent teaching, prolific scholarship and humanitarian service in Africa and its Diaspora and many others.

“Aside from the recognition he has received for his excellent scholarship, he is a celebrated teacher with distinct, unparalleled pedagogical skills that have won him many accolades. In this light, he received the 2013 Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award, the 2010 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, the 2004 Academy of Distinguished Teachers, the 2003 Chancellor’s Council Outstanding Teaching Award, the 2001 Texas Excellence Teaching Award, and the 2000 Jean Holloway Award for Teaching Excellence. His reputation has also attracted many institutions to invite him for many engagements. He has been an External Examiner for degrees at both undergraduate, postgraduate, and post-doctoral levels in numerous universities within and outside Africa.

“Falola is the epitome of the ideas of Town-and-Gown as he has often targeted societal transformation in many of his publications. His scholarship and engagement with society, the nation, and the continent have brought about some social recognition at different phases. In 2020, the Federal Government of Nigeria recognized his contributions by conferring on him the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger. He has also been conferred with some African traditional titles and honours for his contribution to the advancement of African cultures. In this respect, he holds chieftaincy titles, including Nii Kpani Ashaabla 1, Adabraka Otukpai Palace, Accra, Ghana, The Agbakin of Kusela-Ibadan, The Bobagbimo of Ugboland, Mayegun of Auga, Akoko, Bobapitan of Ibadanland and Bobapitan of Ondo Kingdom.

“Professor Falola is a tireless mentor and derives joy from providing opportunities for scholars from every nation to grow, advance their scholarship, and thrive. He has supervised and served on over 100 PhD committees. He has single-handedly provided publishing opportunities for multitudes of African scholars at home and abroad. He set up the Pan-African University Press to provide quality publishing services for scholars in need of such services. He manages more than ten book series with highly prestigious publishers, including Cambridge University Press, Routledge, Bloomsbury, Palgrave Macmillan, the University of Rochester Press, and so on. He founded the Toyin Falola Centre for the Study of Africa to provide scholarship opportunities for disadvantaged Nigerian and African students in various parts of the continent. He donates thousands of books every year to Nigerian universities as a way of doing his bit to enhance education in the country. Professor Falola just continues to give and give back without pause, never forgetting his humble roots.”

Prominent personalities present at the event were Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mammam; Shehu Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, who is the chancellor of the university; the university’s vice chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola; Pastor Tunde Bakare; Dr. Chris Maiyaki, acting executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC); and the immediate past vice chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe. Other honorees were Professor Attahiru Jega (former chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission); and Phyllis Kanki of the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston.