A professor of Political Science, Isaac Adegbenga Aladegbola is scheduled to deliver the 9th Inaugural Lecture of Crawford University, Igbesa Ogun State.
The erudite professor will deliver lecture on ” Groping in the Light: Nigeria & the Burden of Development under the chairman of the occasion, Prof Reuben Jiya Kolo, the Vice Chancellor of the University.
The Lecture slated for Tuesday 29th of April, 2025 would be held at the Multipurpose Hall of the institution.
Prof. Isaac Adegbenga Aladegbola, a distinguished academic and administrator, assumed the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Crawford University in December 2023. His appointment was approved by the University Board of Trustees and the Governing Council, recognizing his exceptional qualifications and contributions to the institution. Born close to six decades ago in the southern part of Ekiti State, Prof. Aladegbola has an illustrious academic background.
He earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Political Science from the University of Ilorin in 1997, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Education and a Master of Science (MSc) in Political Science from the University of Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University) in 2004 and 2006, respectively. He further pursued his doctoral studies, obtaining a PhD in Political Science from the University of Ilorin, with a specialization in the political economy of developing nations, focusing on policy responses to poverty management and inclusive growth.
Prof. Aladegbola’s academic career spans over two decades, during which he has made significant contributions to teaching, research, and administration. He began his journey as a Graduate Assistant at the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, from 2002 to 2005. Subsequently, he served at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, College of Education, Ikere Campus, where he rose through the ranks from Assistant Lecturer to Lecturer I between 2005 and 2014. From 2014 to 2016, he held a faculty position at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. He then joined Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, where he progressed from Lecturer I to Senior Lecturer from 2014 to 2019.
In 2020, Prof. Aladegbola joined Crawford University, where he has since held various administrative positions. He served as the Acting Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations from 2020 to 2021 and as the Dean of Student Affairs from 2021 to 2023. Before assuming his current role, he was a member of the Governing Council of the University.
Prof. Aladegbola’s research expertise is evident in his extensive list of publications in prestigious local and international journals, books, and conference proceedings. He has participated in numerous local and international conferences, where he has presented his scholarly works and engaged with peers in his field.
In his career, Prof. Aladegbola has been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards including the Merit Award for Most Dedicated Lecturer from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in 2005, the Lecturer of the Year Award from the National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS) in 2021, and the Academia Award as Academician per Excellence by the Freelance & Independent Broadcaster Association of Nigeria (FIBAN) in 2008. In 2022, he was honored with the Academia Award from Gold Media Concepts International, among several others.
Prof. Aladegbola is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), Social Science Research Council, the Pan African Solidarity Education Network (PASEN), and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). In 2014, he became an African fellow of the American Political Science Association (APSA) and was awarded the APSA Centennial Grant in 2017, further recognizing his academic excellence. He also won four scholarship awards to attend international conferences of the African Institute of South Africa (AISA) and Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) between 2013 and 2015.
Prof. Aladegbola’s doctoral work focused on the causal factors and effects of increasing poverty indices in Nigeria. The study offers insights into the political, economic, and development issues in Africa, highlighting the continent’s flawed development ideologies as contributing factors to its persistent poverty and the challenges faced in addressing this issue.
Flowing from his experience as a scholar and a regular commentator on national and state broadcast stations, he has a keen interest in the expected role of the African states in the development and welfare of African citizens, as well as the interface with Western neo-colonialism. The perennial questions are: In what ways can African states serve as catalysts for African development and welfare? In light of relentless momentum of globalization with its impact on the nation-state, can African states still play a significant role in the discourse on development and welfare? It is already established that the state was instrumental in the development in Europe. Prof. Aladegbola belongs to the school of thought that African states must be strengthened and liberated from the modern slave trade in the continent.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Prof. Aladegbola possesses extensive leadership experience in community youth development activities. He has been prominently featured on radio and television as a public analyst, offering insights on both local and national issues.
He is a minister of the Gospel and an interpreter in the Apostolic Faith Church. He served in the youth leadership of the church at the old Ekiti region for over two decades and held the position of the regional secretary for more than ten years.
Prof. Aladegbola is happily married and has three children. His hobbies include reading, writing, traveling, and engaging in political analysis.
