By Elizabeth Osayande

The organisers of this year’s Lagos Studies Association (LSA) conference, themed “The State of African Studies in the 21st Century: The Case of Lagos Studies Association @10,” aim to reposition Africa on the global stage by highlighting its natural resources, skills, and human capital, among other factors.

The ongoing conference, hosted in partnership with Trinity University in Yaba, provides participants from various backgrounds an opportunity to brainstorm solutions for Africa’s challenges.

Vice Chancellor of Trinity University, Prof. Clement Kolawole, emphasised the importance of this collaboration with the LSA. “LSA’s initiative to bring the global community to our institution opens up numerous opportunities for the university, Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large. It is a privilege to host the 10th conference of LSA from June 16 to 20.

“This conference aims to change the narrative about Africa. For too long, developed countries have overlooked Africa, despite our vast natural resources, skills, and human capital. This misconception must be corrected. To achieve this, the world needs to understand Africa, and Africans must project what Africa truly represents. This conference embodies that mission. The collaboration with LSA has connected my university to the global intellectual community, and we cannot underestimate the impact that these scholarly discussions can have on investment.”

Co-founder of the LSA and a faculty member at Florida International University, Prof. Saheed Aderinto, remarked that the conference focuses on knowledge sharing, networking, and positioning Africa effectively.

“The LSA @10 conference is about gathering scholars from around the world to discuss their perspectives on Africa as the centre of African Global Studies. The in-person presence of these scholars is vital for professional networking and for enhancing the political economy and social well-being of the state. Their contributions also support local economies through tourism as they spend their hard-earned currencies in Lagos. There has been much discussion about the challenges Africa faces globally, and the urgent need for a resurgence in African studies makes this conference particularly relevant.

“This event fosters knowledge sharing and critical conversations rather than mere competition. We have created a safe space for scholars to engage with ideas and critically assess them. Many of these topics are complex and problematic, including issues such as xenophobia in South Africa. Scholars play a crucial role in addressing these challenges and shaping future discourse around them,” Aderinto noted.

The conference drew guests from Africa, America, the Caribbean, the UK, and beyond, and included prominent LSA co-founders such as Abosede George from Barnard College, Columbia University, Ademide-Adelusi Adeluyi from Howard University, and Eric Covey, Chair of the LSA Teaching Committee from Grand Valley State University.