University of Ibadan Appoints Senayon Olaoluwa as Director of TETFund Centre for Diaspora Studies

The University of Ibadan has appointed Senayon Olaoluwa, the founding head of Diaspora and Transnational Studies at the Institute of African Studies, as the pioneer Director of the TETFund Centre of Excellence for Diaspora Studies. The appointment, effective from March 1, 2024, comes as the Centre receives a TETFund take-off grant of N250,000,000.00 to conduct research aimed at establishing a credible database for the Nigerian Diaspora and other related initiatives.

This appointment marks a significant milestone in recognition of the multi-year partnership between the Diaspora and Transnational Studies program and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). Additionally, the Centre has been granted building infrastructure worth N1,000,000,000.00 by TETFund, further solidifying its foundation for impactful research and academic endeavors.

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Senayon Olaoluwa's expertise in Diaspora studies is underscored by his project, inspired by the Diaspora theory, which recently won a pilot grant at the College Public Health, University of Iowa, USA. Utilizing the theory of "extalgia," Olaoluwa and a consortium of scholars will investigate "Emigration and Mental Health Outcomes among the Left-behind Families in Ibadan, Nigeria." This pioneering research initiative highlights the Centre's commitment to addressing critical issues affecting Diaspora communities and contributing to academic discourse on transnationalism.

The appointment of Senayon Olaoluwa as Director of the TETFund Centre for Diaspora Studies heralds a new chapter in advancing research, scholarship, and engagement with Diaspora communities. It reinforces the University of Ibadan's position as a leading institution in Diaspora studies and underscores its commitment to academic excellence and societal impact.