The election of Professor Hakeem Ibikunle Tijani, as a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, did not come as a surprise to Nigerians.
Professor Tijani, who can be described as an erudite, is currently the Founding Executive Director, Office of Glibal Partnerships-Africa, at the Morgan State University.
He had successfully served as the Founding Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dean Faculty of Arts and Education at the Adeleke University in the years 2011-2017.
He also served as a Founding Director, Centre of Excellence in Migration and Global Studies, at the National Open University of Nigeria, where he is currently a visiting Professor, supervising three PhD. students.
Professor Tijani has been in academia, since 1988 and had taught at the College of Education, Jalingo, Gongola State, Lagos State University, Baylor University, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
He was tenured as a professor at the Morgan State University, in 2009, before returning to Nigeria for almost a decade, to assist in the transformation and building of world-class universities in Nigeria.
He serves as a chairman or member of the Nigerian Universities Commission accreditation panels, a Commissioner on the State of Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture.
In addition to being elected as a Fellow by the Board of Fellows, during its July 4th meeting, Prof. Tijani, in June, won the coveted US Fulbright Specialist Program, as the Founding Fellow to Afro-American University of Central Africa, Oyalla, Equatorial Guinea.
He is a mentor, a distinguished academic, a father known for his selfless service to humanity and also a Fellow, Royal Historical Society, United Kingdom, and the Society for Peace Studies and Practice.
Born at the Lagos Island Maternity hospital, with both paternal and maternal roots in Lagos Island, he is married with children.
Other members who were screened, and also elected as Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Letters include; Professor Anthony Esijolomi Afejuku, Professor Florence Orabueze, Professor Akinkunmi Alao, Professor Olukoya Ogen, Professor Olatunji Alabi Oyeshile and Professor Olusanjo M. Daramola.
Also, Professor Emmanuel Calvin Emasealu, Professor Cecilia Amaoge Eme, Professor Ladzemo Constantine Yuka and Professor Ais Ayinde Oladosu.
This was contained in a letter issued by Professor Olakunbi Olasope, MNAL Secretary, NAL.
Nominees, who do not reside in the country include; Professor Abiodun Salawu, Professor Emerita Omofolabo Ajayi-Soyinka and Professor Hakeem Ibikunle Tijani.
The investiture of the new Fellows would take place on 8 August, 2024 at this Year’s convocation
