By: Victor Ogunyemi

The University of Ibadan on Wednesday, 5th June, 2024 constituted and inaugurated the Management Board, TETFund Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies, at an event held at Trenchard Hall, UI.

At the event were notable individuals including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Professor Peter O. Olapegba (representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor O. Adebowale); TETFund Director, Professor Senayon Olaoluwa; NIDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships, Professor Oluyemisi A. Bamgbose.

Professor Olapegba highlighted that the signing of the UI-NIDCOM Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa during her visit to UI, led to the establishment of the TETFund Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies in 2023.

He also noted that the management board of the centre was constituted and inaugurated in order to achieve the objectives for the establishment of the Centre.

In his words, ‘the Board will be charged with the oversight role of policy approval and ratification for implementation by the Management Team of the Centre’.

‘The Board will also be expected to statutorily give a report of its activities to the Vice-Chancellor‘. Professor Olapegba added.

Professor Senayon Olaoluwa appreciated Honourable Abike and NIDCOM, for their support and the University of Ibadan management for its commitment to the establishment of the Centre.

Representatives of NIDCOM on the Board include the Head of Technology Transfer and Innovation Department, Honourable Abdulrahman Terab, and the Director of Media/Public Relations, Mr. Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

Other Board members include the Director of the Research Management Office, Deans of Arts, Social Sciences, Law, and Multidisciplinary Studies, and representatives from the Institute of African Studies, and the Departments of English, Medicine, and Sociology.