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The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), in collaboration with Lagos State University (LASU), organized the CODESRIA Academic Diaspora Visiting Fellowship Training Programme from June 10, 2024, to July 9, 2024, at the Central Language Laboratory, Faculty of Arts, LASU,/
The programme focused on “Critical Thinking and Creative Writing for Postgraduate Students and Early Career Faculty in the Humanities.”
Prof. Olanrewaju Shitta-Bey, a professor of Philosophy at Howard University, Washington DC, USA, and an alumnus of LASU, spearheaded the initiative. Prof. Shitta-Bey shared his motivation for bringing the conference to LASU, saying, “I decided to bring this conference to LASU because I am an alumnus of LASU, where I did my BA in Philosophy and also lectured before relocating to the USA. LASU shaped me intellectually and gave me a family in my lecturers. They were not just lecturers but mentors and people of goodwill. There are many reasons why I had to bring the conference to LASU.”
Funded by CODESRIA, the month-long programme aimed to provide postgraduate students and early career faculty with essential skills in critical thinking and creative writing.
“The programme focused on training early career faculty and postgraduate students to acquire these fundamental skills, which are crucial for any researcher who wants to succeed,” Prof. Shitta-Bey explained. “Myself and CODESRIA felt it was important to offer these skills to those entering the field, giving them the opportunity to become better researchers.”
He emphasized the importance of giving back to his alma mater, adding, “Personally, this is my way of giving back, with the support of CODESRIA, which funded the initiative. They gave me the freedom to choose any university, and I chose LASU as it is foundational to me.”
He advised the trainees to recognize the global nature of scholarship, stressing, “They should understand that scholarship extends beyond their local boundaries. It is global, and the skills they have acquired will enable them to function in the field of scholarship anywhere in the world. They should apply their knowledge and be ready for opportunities.”
Prof. Kabiru Olusegun Akinyemi, Director of Linkages, Partnerships, and Collaborations at LASU, praised Prof. Shitta-Bey’s efforts. “The programme was brought to LASU by Prof. Shitta-Bey, who had his early career here before relocating to the USA.
He secured grants and decided to bring them back to the university. Participants learned how to improve their academic skills, particularly in writing and research, and how to leverage new global trends. This will enhance their academic excellence and improve their writing and research orientation. I commend Prof. Shitta-Bey for his great work and implore him to organize more conferences for the university in the future.”
Abidat Olusola Mohammed, an Assistant Lecturer from the Department of Language Arts and Social Sciences at LASU, highlighted the timely relevance of the conference. “As early career and postgraduate students, we are encouraged to write publications, publish our papers, and think critically before taking steps in everything we do. Before we can publish a paper, we need to be creative in our writing and think deeply about our analysis and data collection. This conference has significantly impacted me, teaching the art of creative writing and critical thinking.”
Dr. Sadiq Uthman Okanlawon, a scholar in the Department of Religion and Peace Studies at LASU, emphasized the importance of the training for academic career progression. “The conference is about CODESRIA training for upcoming scholars on critical thinking and creative writing in academics. To progress in academia, one must learn the art of publishing and writing. You cannot write without being creative, and it is the fruit of creative writing that leads to creative thinking. Publishers worldwide seek creative writers, and new scholars are using technology to assist their creative reasoning. A key takeaway from the conference is that regardless of your status, you must be critical of yourself before submitting any writing.”
Abdulkareem Kaosthur, a postgraduate student and participant in the CODESRIA training, shared his learning experience. “I learned that in academic research writing, we must have clear arguments and understand what we are arguing about. This is a major takeaway from the conference and will be crucial for my research work and postgraduate thesis.”
