The Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) has conferred an award of “Distinguished Fellow” (Institutional Category) on the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, in recognition of his exemplary support for the ideals of peace and progress of humanity, and also the contributions of the University to peace scholarship.

The Fellowship, which is the highest honour of the Society, was conferred on him, following his nomination, by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro (fspsp), the immediate past Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) on Tuesday, 21^st November, 2023 (today) in Abuja, during the 20th Anniversary and 17th Annual International Conference of the Society.

It was indeed an epoch-making event that attracted notable personalities including the Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, PhD, who was the Distinguished Guest of Honour; Professor Kayode Adebowale, fspsp, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan and Chairman;  Professor Olufemi Peters, fspsp, Vice-Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Co-Chairman; Professor Isaac Olawale, fspsp, Founder, SPSP and Keynote Speaker; and Mr. Nathaniel Msen Awuapila, fspsp, President, SPSP; including other eminent Nigerians who were also conferred with the Fellowship during the Investiture.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor expressed profound gratitude to the Board of Trustees, SPSP for the conferment of the Fellowship on him. He equally thanked the Society for recognizing the crucial role of the Federal University Lokoja in promoting peace and development in society, adding that such a gesture would spur him to sustain the tempo.

The SPSP is an umbrella professional body for peace scholars and practitioners whose vision is the emergence of a professional platform for synergistic relationships focused on sustainable peace and development in Africa. The Society promotes a non-violent approach to conflict resolution through research, advocacy and actionable mechanisms aimed at strengthening local capacities in order to bring about a sustainable culture of peace and development.

In addition, the professional body conducts cutting-edge research, seminars, international conferences, workshops and public lectures in the area of peace, security and development and has pioneered the establishment of peace/security studies programmes in some reputable tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Through its Founder, Professor I.O. Albert, fspsp, the Peace and Development Studies Programme was developed for the University of Cape Coast, in Ghana. SPSP has active Branches in Nigeria and an international Branch in Sierra Leone. See more pictures here