A Celebrated Historian, Teacher, Author & Administrator, Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun was educated in Nigeria and abroad.
Among other academic & professional qualifications, he holds the Bachelor’s degree in History for University of Ibadan and a straight Ph.D. from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He undertook further studies at the London School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London; The Sorbonne University, Paris, France; and University of Hamburg, Germany; also acquiring mastery of French and German languages.
A Professor Emeritus of History & International
Relations at the University of Lagos [UniLag] since 2012 and in the same rank at Redeemer’s University from 2017, he was a full Professor at UniLag for about two decades.
Our Celebrant’s resume shows that he has been around. He has been an Assistant Professor, University of Western Ontario, Canada; Lecturer, University of Ibadan [UI] and University of West Indies; Professor of History, University of Maiduguri; and Professor of History, Redeemer’s University for 12 years. At UI, he was one of the young lecturers sent to establish the Jos Campus, which metamorphosed into the University of Jos.
In the West Indies, he taught Commonwealth and African History which helped to project the contribution of Africa to that Anglo-African country without over-stressing the cultural legacy of the British.
Beyond the classroom, Professor Jide Osuntokun has been pressed into service on national global assignments. He was variously Director, Nigerian Universities Commission Office in Washington, D.C. USA, and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada’ during which assignments he helped to broaden the scope of tertiary education in Nigeria. Among others, he helped to recruit and train staff, source equipment and provide international academic linkages for Nigerian universities.
He also served as Nigeria’s Ambassador, Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary to Germany; a Member, Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) on International Relations: and Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council of Ekiti State University which transformation he led to attract better funding and facilities.
Widely-published and on the Editorial Boards of many journals and learned publications, Professor Jide Osuntokun has over 100 publications to his credit and has maintained regular newspaper columns for many years.
Our Celebrant is a recipient of the Nigerian National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger [OON] & Presidential Honour of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; and holds the distinguished Fellowships of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Historical Society of Nigeria, Redeemer’s University, and University of Lagos.
His varied roles in his professional affiliations include: President, Nigeria-Canada Chamber of Commerce & Industry since 199; Chairman, Environmental Protection Society of Nigeria since
1993; President, Nigerian Society of International Affairs; and President, Historical Society of Nigeria.
He is happily married with children.
Ladies & Gentlemen, we respectfully invite Professor Akiniide Osuntokun to receive the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Education.
Hearty Congratulations, Sir!