CALL FOR PAPERS

A 3-DAY INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
THEME: OLUSEGUN OBASANJO AND THE TASK OF NATION-BUILDING
VENUE: THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS
DATE:

Nation building is one of the most challenging tasks facing the leaders of post-colonial states in Africa. This is a particularly daunting task in the case of Nigeria given its socio-cultural heterogeneity. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, of all Nigeria’s past leaders, has had to confront this task for a longer period and in very trying circumstances. He has a long experience of public life, having ruled the country twice; first as a military head of state, and later as an elected president (with a twenty-year interlude between both tenures). Added to this is the fact that Obasanjo is a very controversial figure. By the time he left office in 2007, he had attracted more critics than admirers. Among other things, his use of power, his commitment to the ‘Nigerian Project’ and how these were reflected in his various policies have been hotly debated by the local and international press, and by several elite groups.

To commemorate the 75th Birthday Anniversary of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos, therefore, invites scholars to participate in a 3-day interdisciplinary, international symposium. This is an academic platform for a more objective and scientific scrutiny of the role of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in nation building in Nigeria. While we understand that nation building is not wholly an individual activity, this symposium underscores the impact that a single person could have on the course of a nation’s development. It welcomes in-depth analyses of the structures, resources, alliances and personnel deployed by this enigmatic leader in strengthening the nation. The central idea is to unravel the immense responsibility that the government of a nation as variegated and populous as Nigeria places on its leaders. This would direct our recommendations as we chart a future course.

Sub-Themes: (include but are not limited to the following)
1. Epistemological, methodological and theoretical issues in leadership and nation building
2. Biographical and psychological analyses of Obasanjo
3. Constitutional and legal issues during the Obasanjo regimes
4. Boundary disputes during the Obasanjo regimes
5. Obasanjo and educational development in Nigeria
6. Intergovernmental relations
7. Foreign relations and diplomacy
8. Labour and industrial relations
9. Infrastructural development/underdevelopment
10. Government and media relations
11. Civil society, women and governance
12. Politics and elections
13. Economic development, revenue mobilisation and allocation
14. Management of natural resources, agriculture and industrialisation
15. Religion and nation building
16. Conflict management and resolution
17. Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies
18. Budgeting and the National Debt Question

Interested participants are requested to send a 300-word abstract (as email attachment) not later than 15th January 2012 to Dr. Michael Ogbeidi at obj_nationbuilding@yahoo.com.

Abstracts should include: Name(s) and affiliations of the author(s); institutional details (contact address, email address); title of proposed paper; body of abstract. For general queries about the symposium, please contact Dr. Michael Ogbeidi at obj_nationbuilding@yahoo.com

Notification of acceptance shall be sent to authors of successful abstracts by 20th January 2012.

Kindly note, that the organisers of the symposium shall bear the cost of accommodation for all intending participants. All intending participants are encouraged to source their own funding for travel.

However, the organisers of the symposium may have limited funds for travel grants. Interested international participants may apply for reimbursement of their travel costs. All such application should be sent to Dr. Michael Ogbeidi at obj_nationbuilding@yahoo.com before 20th February 2012.