AAUA’s 40th Inaugural Lecture: Prof. Olugbemi to Speak on Nation Building

AKUNGBA-AKOKO—Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), will hold its 40th Inaugural Lecture on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. The lecture, titled “Nation Building in Nigeria: The Historical Intersections of Gender, Religion and Culture,” will be delivered by Professor Victoria Kikelomo Olugbemi, a renowned scholar in Socio-Cultural History and Gender Studies.

The event, scheduled to take place at the University Multipurpose Hall, will begin at 2:00 p.m., with guests expected to be seated by 1:30 p.m.

In a statement, the Chairman of the University Ceremonies Committee and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Adebisi Daramola, disclosed that the lecture would be chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Olugbenga Ige.

Professor Olugbemi, who became a professor in 2021, started her academic journey with a Bachelor of Arts (Education) in History from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in 1990. She later earned a Master’s and Ph.D. in History and International Studies from AAUA in 2004 and 2015, respectively.

Joining the university as a Graduate Assistant in 2001, she has since held over 30 leadership roles, including Head of Department, Director of the University Advancement Office, and Director of the Centre for Gender Studies and Development. Notably, she chaired the Fundraising Sub-Committee for the university’s 25th Anniversary.

A prolific academic, Professor Olugbemi has authored and edited five books and published more than 25 journal articles. She has supervised four postgraduate dissertations and has presented papers at various local and international conferences, including in Kenya and the Republic of Benin.

She is also a member of several professional bodies, including the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN), the National Association for the Promotion of Arts and Social Sciences (NAPSASS), University Women Initiatives of Nigeria (UNIWIN), National Association of Women in Academics (NAWACS), American Studies Association of Nigeria (ASAN), and the Association of Directors of Centres for Gender Studies in Nigeria.

The lecture is expected to offer critical insights into how gender, religion, and culture intersect in shaping Nigeria’s nation-building process.