Kwara-born Scholar Bags PhD in South Africa’s Prestigious University
A distinguished academic from Kwara State, Dr. Gbadeyan Olawale, has added another feather to his cap as he recently bagged a PhD in Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa—one of Africa’s leading research institutions.
Dr. Gbadeyan, who hails from the ancient town of Esie in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, was among the graduands honoured at the university’s convocation ceremony held on May 8, 2025, at the Westville Campus in Durban.
Prior to his doctoral studies, Dr. Gbadeyan obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies, both from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
His groundbreaking PhD research, titled “Interrogating Intergroup Relations and Peacebuilding among Farmers and Herders in Rural Grazing Areas of Benue State, Nigeria,” investigated the persistent climate-induced conflicts between farmers and herders in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region. Through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions across five strategically selected communities in the Benue Valley, he explored the dynamics of climate change, land disputes, and identity politics.
Among his key recommendations are the promotion of open communication and dialogue, the creation of multi-stakeholder platforms, and the development of coordinated mechanisms for resource sharing, conflict resolution, and sustainable peacebuilding.
Dr. Gbadeyan is currently a senior lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies at Osun State University. Beyond the classroom, he is a respected consultant for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank’s WASH programme, and a passionate community development advocate.
He is a prominent member of the Save Kwara Group and the Kwara Youth Centre, and played a vital role in the historic Ótóge political movement that redefined Kwara’s political landscape.
With 34 academic publications and several prestigious research grants—including the NRF-TETFUND—Dr. Gbadeyan continues to contribute to scholarship and policy. His recent co-edited book, “Peacebuilding in Volatile Communities: Nigerian Experiences,” was published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK.
His academic journey and public service remain a source of inspiration to many young scholars in Nigeria and across Africa.
Congratulations 🎉 sir
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Dr. Olawale. Keep setting the pace.
ReplyDeleteCheers to more remarkable achievements and impact.