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Please find information about our leadership and our members below. If you would like to join our email list, please fill out our survey here.
IPIA leadership
Mwita Chacha
Dr Mwita Chacha is Associate Professor in International Relations at the Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham. His research focuses on regionalism/regional integration and its intersection with domestic political and security outcomes.
Contact: m.chacha@bham.ac.uk
Social media: @chacha_republic
Eniye C. Dubakeme
Eniye C. Dubakeme is an Assistant Lecturer in the department of International Relations and Diplomacy, at Baze University. Her research focuses on Foreign affairs and governance for security in Africa.
Contact: eniye.dubakeme@bazeuniversity.edu.ng
Social media: @eniye_chris
Florian G. Kern
Dr Florian G. Kern is Associate Professor in the Department of Government, University of Essex. His research focuses on governance in Africa. His work related to IPIA focuses particularly on how foreign policy reflects constituent views.
Contact: fkern@essex.ac.uk
Social media: @floriangkern.bsky.social
Consolata Sulley
Dr Consolata Raphael Sulley is Lecturer in political science at the University of Dar es Salaam Tanzania. She holds a PhD in Political Science from Leipzig University, Germany. She has researched, consulted and published on democracy and the democratisation process in Africa (Kenya and Tanzania in particular), elections, party politics, gender and women’s political empowerment, public policy, local governance, project evaluation, human rights and humanitarianism.
Contact: consraph@yahoo.com
Social media: @ConsolataSulley
Alice Uwizera (Research Assistant)
Alice is a second-year International Relations student at the University of Essex. She is particularly interested in African politics, focusing on governance, development, and the impact of international institutions on the continent.
Contact: au22852@essex.ac.uk
Members
Olanike Adelakun
Dr. Olanike Adelakun is an Associate Professor of Law at Lead City University, Nigeria, with over 17 years of distinguished experience in legal academia and practice. She specializes in family law, child rights, conflict studies, reproductive health rights, gender studies and bioethics. Her research and litigation focus on human rights, particularly the rights of women and children in Africa.
Contact: nikegolden@yahoo.com
Social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olanike-adelakun-ph-d-60aa4134/
Ayo Ariyo Adesopo
Professor Ayo Ariyo Adesopo is a Professor of Public Administration, Department of Public Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, NIGERIA. His research focuses on Public Financial Management, Inter-governmental Fiscal Relations, Public Budgeting and resource management, ethics and accountability in government.
Contact: ayoadesopo@oauife.edu.ng
Faruq Boge
Dr. Faruq Boge is a lecturer at the Department of History and International Studies, Lagos State University, Nigeria. His research focuses on Economic History, International Economic Relations, and Development.
Contact: faruq.bogelasu.edu.ng
Jessica Espey
Dr Jessica Espey is Associate Professor in the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences at the University of Southampton and is Deputy Director, Research for WorldPop. Her research focuses on governance and epistemology, specifically how data and diverse forms of evidence shape the international governance of sustainable development and climate change. At World Pop she works to support the development and uptake of high-quality research and methods for the construction of open and high-resolution geospatial data on population distributions, demographics and dynamics. She has two decades of professional experience working in international development, within think-tanks, charities and the United Nations. From 2014-2020 she was a director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and prior to that she served as an Adviser to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia.
Contact: J.M.Espey@soton.ac.uk
Gilbert Khadiagala
Emeritus Professor Gilbert M. Khadiagala is in the Department of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Over the last 35 years, he has taught international relations, comparative politics, and African studies in Kenya, Canada, the United States, and South Africa. His research focuses on African regional institutions, mediation and conflict resolution, with a geographic focus on the Horn of Africa, Great Lakes region, and Southern Africa.
Contact details: Gilbert.khadiagala@wits.ac.za
Gilbert K. Kimutai
Dr. Kimutai lectures Political Science, International Relations and Diplomacy in the School of Development and Strategic Studies; Maseno University – Kenya. He holds a PhD in Political Science and Public Administration, a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and Public Administration all from Moi University - Kenya. His research interests are Regional Integration, Global Governance, Conflict Resolution and Management, Public Policy, Migration, Foreign Policy and Diplomacy, African Politics and International Law.
Contact: gkimutai@maseno.ac.ke
Kazeem Oyedele Lamidi
Kazeem Oyedele Lamidi holds a Ph.D. degree in Public Administration from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Local Government and Development Studies at the Obafemi Awolowo University. His research interests are on issues of local governance, peacebuilding, community and policy studies.
Contact: akandekande@oauife.edu.ng or 53508777@mynwu.ac.za
Katariina Mustasilta
Katariina Mustasilta is a Senior Research Fellow in the European Union and Strategic Competition programme at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. Her research covers countries’ internal conflicts, the EU’s external action in the realms of conflicts and threats to peace, and international conflict prevention and peace-building efforts. Her publications include academic articles in journals such as the Journal of Peace Research and European Foreign Affairs Review as well as more policy-oriented research reports and briefings.
Contact: katariina.mustasilta@fiia.fi
Social media: @KMustasilta
Alecia Ndlovu
Dr. Alecia Ndlovu is a Political Scientist and Lecturer at the University of Cape Town, specialising in Comparative and International Political Economy as well as Quantitative Research Methods. Her research focuses on political institutions and development in Africa's resource-rich economies. She is currently co-editing the Encyclopedia of African Politics (Edward Elgar Publishing) and leads a Worldwide Universities Network-funded project on Mining Accountability and Development in Africa.
Contact: alecia.ndlovu@uct.ac.za
Social media:
Oluwamurewa Newo
Murewa Newo is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Covenant University. Her research interests are artificial intelligence and social media, strategic studies and environmental sustainability
Contact: oluwamurewa.newo@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
Social media: @MurewaNewo
Israel Nyaburi Nyadera
Israel Nyaburi Nyadera is a lecturer at the National Defense College, National Defense University, Nairobi, Kenya. He is a Swiss Government Excellence Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding, Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland. Dr Nyadera has a PhD in Political Science from the University of Macau, a Masters in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University, Washington DC, a Masters in International Relations from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara and a degree in Political Science from the University of Nairobi. He is a fellow under the Irregular Warfare Initiative, a joint production of Princeton University and Westpoint and previously a fellow under the India-Africa Security Programme at the MP-IDSA, New Delhi.
Contact: mailto:inyadera@gmail.com
Chikodiri Nwangwu
Dr Chikodiri Nwangwu is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg. He is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His research and teaching interests straddle African political economy, peace and conflict, election, and social movement studies. He has published well-researched articles in many reputable journals, including Security Journal, Society, African Affairs, Review of African Political Economy, and International Feminist Journal of Politics.
Contact: cnwangwu@uj.ac.za; chikodiri.nwangwu@unn.edu.ng
Social media: @Kodiri_Nwangwu
Ngozika Anthonia Obi-Ani
Dr. Ngozika Anthonia Obi-Ani is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She is an interdisciplinary historian specializing in Nigeria and Africa. Her research interests lie at the intersection of gender, women, health, migration, conflict, and memory studies.
Email: ngozika.obi-ani@unn.edu.ng
Social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozika-anthonia-obi-ani-66a58061
Joachim Chukwuma Okafor
Joachim Chukwuma Okafor, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). He holds a PhD in Conflict, Peace and Strategic studies with research interest that straddle armed conflict & security studies, international politics, geopolitics of Sahel, African politics, environmental & migration studies.
Contact: chukwuma.okafor@unn.edu.ng
Mark Okowa
Dr. Mark Okowa is a Lecturer of International Relations and Development Studies at Tom Mboya University (TMU) in Kenya. He holds a PhD in Political Studies from the University of Aberdeen, UK. His research interests include transitional justice, conflict transformation, the science-religion nexus in Africa, and public policy. Dr. Okowa also has expertise in project management, strategic planning, and the monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
Contact: mark.okowa@tmu.ac.ke
Jude Chikadibia Onwunyirimadu
Jude Chikadibia Onwunyirimadu serves as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the Federal University Otuoke (FUO) in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He has participated in both local and international conferences and has published several scholarly articles. His research interests are in Peace, Conflict, & Security Studies, Africa & Regional Studies, Human Rights Studies, and Migration Studies.
Contact: onwunyirimadujc@fuotuoke.edu.ng
Social Media: (Facebook; LinkedIn): Jude Chikadibia Onwunyirimadu
Oscar Otele
Dr Oscar M. Otele is a Senior Lecturer and the Chairman of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Nairobi. His areas of specialization include Comparative Politics, International Relations and Political Sociology. He has researched extensively on China-Africa relations.
Contact: otelemeywa2021@gmail.com
Social media:
Daniel Otieno Okech
Dr. Daniel Otieno is an educator in the Department of Educational Management Policy and Curriculum Studies at Kenyatta University, Kenya. He holds a PhD in Educational Administration and lectures on Educational Management/Leadership, Educational Research, Monitoring and Evaluation and use of ICT in Education. He has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters on values-based leadership, digital literacy, blended learning and strategic management. His current research focus is on internationalization, virtual academic exchange, pluralism, social inclusion and sustainable development. He is lead consultant at the Center for Values Education, an organization that advocates for values and equality in organisations.
Contact: otieno.daniel@ku.ac.ke
Social media:
Saheed Babjide Owonikoko
Dr Saheed Babajide OWONIKOKO is a senior lecturer and researcher in the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University, Yola. He is also the postgraduate programmes coordinator for the Centre. His teaching and research interests focus on terrorism and counterterrorism in Africa, management of non-state armed groups in Africa, preventing/countering violent extremism in Africa, elections, gender and violence as well as sports, peace and development in Africa. He has published in reputable journals such as The Round Table, Security Journal, Small Wars and Insurgency, Soccer and Society, African Security and so on.
Contact: owonikoko.babajide@mau.edu.ng; owonikoko.babajide@gmail.com
Luca Raineri
Dr Luca Raineri is Assistant Professor in security and conflict studies at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, of Pisa Italy. His work investigates transnational in/security dynamics, as well as their domestic and international political implications, with reference to the EU extended Mediterranean neighborhood and Africa, and a special focus on the Sahel region.
Contact: luca.raineri@santannapisa.it
Social media: @Raineri_Lu
Ueli Staeger
Dr Ueli Staeger is Assistant Professor (tenure track) at the University of Amsterdam. His research explores international organizations and African security, with a focus on the funding and geopolitics of the African Union. In addition, he takes an interest in Africa-Europe relations, decolonial approaches, and small states' foreign policies.
Contact: u.m.i.stager@uva.nl
Social media: @UeliStaeger
Babayo Sule
Babayo Sule is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political and Administrative Studies, National University of Lesotho. His research interest is in Election, Political Parties and Security Studies.
Contact: babayosule@gmail.com
Tata E. Sunjo
Tata E. Sunjo (PhD) is an Associate Professor of Climatology and Environmental Governance at the University of Buea, Cameroon. His research focuses on environmental governance, climate change and conflicts in Africa.
Contact: tataemmanuel@gmail.com
Social Media: www.linkedin.com/in/tata-emmanuel-sunjo-683b2240
Lidet Tadesse
Lidet Tadesse is an analyst and peacebuilding practitioner whose work focuses on African peace and security, and African multilateral approaches to peace and security through the African Union, and African regional organisations. Her areas of focus include African peace and security issues, the African Union (AU) and its partnerships with the EU and China, governance and peace and security management under the AU, Africa in multilateralism and the geopolitics of the Horn of Africa.
Contact: lta@ecdpm.org
Sakah Bernard Nsaidzedze
Dr. Sakah Bernard Nsaidzedze is a Lecturer of peace, security and conflict at the University of Buea, Department of International Relations and Conflict, Heritage University Institute of Peace and Development Studies, and the Pan-African University Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences. His research interest focuses on African peace, security, conflicts, governance, regional integration, youth & women.
Contact: bernard.nsai@gmail.com
Social Media: @NsaiNsai
Dare Leke Idowu
Dr Dare Leke Idowu recently completed a PhD in Political Studies at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. His research focuses on African Diplomacy, 4IR Geopolitics, Democratisation, and Regional Power Politics.
Contact: idowudarre@gmail.com
Social media: @idowudarre
Olatunde Isaac Olaniyi
Captain Olatunde Isaac Olaniyi is an early-career scholar with teaching and research interests cutting across International Relations and Critical Security Studies. He is a 2024 fellow of the Ife Institute of Advanced Studies. His doctoral research, which is ongoing at the University of Ibadan, investigates the complexities of inter-state cooperation on counterterrorism in fragile contexts. He was with the Nigerian Army College (NACOE) in Ilorin, where he taught Political Science and Military Geopolitics. While in NACOE, he was the Acting Head, Department of Political Science, a position he held from August 2022 to March 2025. Captain Olaniyi is a commissioned officer of the Nigerian Army.
Contact: latundeolaniyi@gmail.com
oi.olaniyi@nacoe.edu.ng