Lagos, Nigeria

From July 22 to July 26, the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) program of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), hosted the Research Methods Workshop at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

On Monday, the workshop began with opening remarks from Dr. Cyril Obi, the Program Director of APN and Next Gen. He thanked everyone in attendance for coming to the workshop, expressing excitement for the days ahead. His remarks were followed by that of Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, the Director-General of the NIIA, welcoming participants to Lagos and Nigeria.

The opening session was followed by a keynote lecture entitled “Insurgency and Environmental Security in the West Sahel: The Case of Northeast Nigeria,” by Prof. Usman Tar, the Honorable Commissioner of Information and Internal Security in Borno State, Nigeria. The Guest of Honor at the event was Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert, Professor of African History, Peace and Conflict Studies at the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan, who moderated the public lecture. The lecture explored the linkages between environmental challenges such as desertification and reduced access to natural resources, and fierce competition between groups such as pastoralists and farmers, as well as violent conflict involving insurgent groups such as Boko Haram. This was followed by a Question-and-Answer session between Prof. Tar and members of the audience of APN and Next Gen fellows, as well as scholars and guests from NIIA.

After a short break, fellows returned to the interactive workshop sessions. There were five APN IRF working groups and eight Next Gen thematic groups. The rest of the day was dedicated to the workshop sessions.

On Tuesday, the day commenced with a keynote lecture entitled, “Researching Women, development, and Peace in Africa: Navigating Between Field, classroom, and public sector,” by Professor Precious Kassey Garba of the Department of Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The Guest of Honor at the event was Professor Femi Otubanjo from the NIIA, who moderated the lecture. Professor Garba urged scholars addressing women’s issues in Africa to shift their gaze from problem identification to solution-focused research. She also called on researchers to adopt methodologies that genuinely serve Africa’s interests. This was followed by a Question-and-Answer session between Prof. Garba and members of the audience of APN and Next Gen fellows, as well as scholars and guests from the NIIA

After a short break, participants returned to the interactive workshop sessions, splintering into the same groups as the day before. This took up the rest of the afternoon.

On Wednesday, the day commenced with the APN IRF working groups and the Next Gen thematic groups’ meeting for their workshop sessions in the morning. This was followed by visits to places of interest, including two cultural sites in Lagos, The Nike Art Gallery and the Lekki Arts and Crafts Market, in the afternoon. Afterward, workshop participants enjoyed an evening dinner and cultural entertainment at the Lagoon Restaurant.

On Thursday, the fellows engaged in two one-on-one mentoring and feedback sessions with a group facilitator. These sessions lasted from morning to early afternoon. Afterward, there was a panel discussion with fellows and mentors, moderated by Dr. Cyril Obi, entitled “Developing and Applying Interdisciplinary Research Methods: Advancing African Perspectives to Knowledge Production,” where the presenters shared their experiences and insights into challenges, benefits, and limitations of multidisciplinary research methods. The panelists included: Dr. Henrietta Nyamnjoh (Workshop Facilitator), Dr. Steve Akoth (Workshop Facilitator), Sean Maliehe (APN IRF | National University of Lesotho), Angela Mathias Kavishe (APN IRF | The Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy), Matseliso Motsoane (Next Gen Completion | University of the Witwatersrand), and Marie Grace Kagoyire Gasinzigwa (Next Gen Completion | Stellenbosch University).

This was followed by a Question-and-Answer session between the panelists and the audience.

Following the panel, there was a closing ceremony where Prof. Efem Ubi, NIIA’s Director of Research, and Dr. Cyril Obi delivered closing remarks and a vote of thanks. This was followed by the presentation of certificates of participation to 2024 APN and Next Gen fellows in attendance.

The APN and Next Gen program would like to thank all of the fellows, mentors, keynote lecturers, guests of honor, and the members of the NIIA for their participation, enthusiasm, support, and commitment to the program.