Femi Ashekun/
Prof. Simeon Olusegun Ilesanmi, a Washington M. Wingate Professor of Religion at Wake Forest University, North Carolina, USA, will deliver the 24th convocation lecture of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL).
The convocation, which holds at the J. F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Thursday, will feature the investiture of 11 new fellows.
The lecture is entitled, ‘The Republic of Dignity: The Nigerian Common Humanity in a Culturally Heterogenous Nigeria.’
Ilesanmi, who was admitted into the institute as an Overseas Fellow – Religious Studies, last year, will also be invested as a retroactive fellow, alongside Prof. Justus Obi Joseph Nwachukwu-Agbada (Regular Fellow – Literature).
The new fellows include the famous writer, Odia Ofeimun, Prof. Roseline Oro Aziza (Linguistics – Regular Fellow), Prof. Godini Gabriel Darah (Literature/English – Regular Fellow), Prof. Oluyemisi Adebowale (Literature/Yoruba- Regular Fellow) and Prof. Alex Chinwuba Asigbo (Theatre Arts – Regular Fellow).
Others include Prof. Yakubu Aboki Ochefu (History- Regular Fellow), Prof. Olumuyiwa Adebanjo Falaiye (Philosophy – Regular Fellow), Prof. Emeritus John Ayotunde Bewaji (Overseas Fellow – Philosophy) and
Chief Olusola Akintola Osuntokun, MFR – (Honorary Fellow)
Chairman of the institute, Prof. Duro Oni, and secretary. Prof. Ayobami Kehinde, explained that the ceremony is also open to those who want to join virtually through Zoom.
The Nigerian Academy of Letters is the apex body of arts and literature in Nigeria. It is an autonomous, scholarly and non-political state institution for advancing scholarship and public interest in the humanities at the highest level in country.
It was established in 1974 and governed by an executive committee of distinguished professors.
It promotes four types of Fellows; Foundation Fellows, Regular Fellows, Overseas Fellows and Honorary Fellows on a yearly basis.
Today’s announcement brings the number of Fellows of the Academy to 103, comprising; seven foundation fellows, 67 regular fellows, 14 overseas fellows and 15 honorary fellows.
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