Professor Oka Martin Obono Appointed Honorary Professor of University of Sierra Leone

Professor Oka Martin Obono Appointed Honorary Professor of University of Sierra Leone

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE — Professor Oka Martin Obono, distinguished Nigerian scholar and Africa’s first Professor of Ethnodemography, has been formally appointed Honorary Professor of the University of Sierra Leone (USL), Fourah Bay College.

The appointment, which took effect immediately, was formally conveyed through a letter transmitted by the Registrar of the University of Sierra Leone.

Professor Obono, who is currently in Sierra Leone, described the appointment as a significant opportunity to contribute to the development of the historic institution and to strengthen longstanding relationships between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

He hopes to use the appointment to reinforce existing historical, cultural and educational ties between Nigeria and Sierra Leone, while expanding opportunities for collaborative regional and bilateral research.

Building on an Existing Relationship

The appointment builds on Professor Obono's previous engagement with the University of Sierra Leone.

In February 2024, the Sierra Leonean Government offered Professor Obono a six-month appointment as Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone.

His latest appointment as Honorary Professor provides an opportunity to continue contributing to the university's development, particularly through initiatives relating to staff training, mentoring and institutional development that he had previously initiated at Fourah Bay College.

Professor Obono is also expected to engage with senior university and government officials during his current stay in Sierra Leone. His engagements include discussions with the Vice President of Sierra Leone, the Vice Chancellor and Principal, and the Registrar of the University of Sierra Leone on matters arising from his appointment and ideas for institutional reform.

He is also expected to meet with the Minister of Technical and Higher Education to explore further avenues for institutional development.

A Distinguished Academic Career

Professor Oka Martin Obono is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Ibadan and is recognised as Africa's first Professor of Ethnodemography.

With more than 35 years of experience spanning research, teaching, academic leadership, consultancy, institutional development and policy engagement, he has built an extensive academic career across Nigeria, Africa, Europe, South Africa and the United States.

His scholarship covers sociology, demography and population studies, public health, governance, peace and security, cultural psychology, institutional and organisational development, and strategic policy analysis. He has more than 180 publications and has held several academic and institutional leadership positions.

His professional engagements have included major Nigerian, African and international institutions, while his academic career has taken him to universities and research institutions across several countries.

Professor Obono has also served as a visiting professor and lecturer at institutions including Leiden University in the Netherlands, the University of the Western Cape in South Africa and Brown University in the United States.

Connecting Scholarship and Community

Beyond his academic career, Professor Obono has maintained a strong commitment to the intellectual development of Yakurr and the wider community.

He is the Founder and President of the Yakurr Academic Society (YAS), through which he promotes intellectual development, responsible citizenship, academic engagement and community advancement.

He hopes that his renewed engagement with the University of Sierra Leone will also create opportunities for members of the Yakurr Academic Society and other researchers to participate in collaborative regional research.

For Yakurr, the appointment represents another significant milestone in the international academic career of one of its distinguished scholars. It also highlights the potential of academic relationships to build stronger connections between communities and institutions across West Africa.

Professor Obono's latest appointment at the University of Sierra Leone therefore extends beyond an individual academic distinction. It creates a platform for continued engagement in higher education, institutional development, research collaboration and the strengthening of Nigeria–Sierra Leone relations.

Discover Ugep congratulates Professor Oka Martin Obono on his appointment and celebrates his continued contribution to scholarship, higher education and community development.