Director Strategy

Prof Wale Are Olaitan

Wale Are Olaitan graduated as the best student in the pioneering class of Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria (now Olabisi Onabanjo University) in 1986. He started his academic career immediately at the Department of Political Science in the University as a Graduate Assistant. After bagging postgraduate degrees from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, he grew and made progress in the career leading to his appointment as a Professor of Political Science in 2006. He has also had the privilege of holding very many administrative positions in the University - Sub-Dean (Undergraduate); Sub- Dean (Postgraduate); Head of Department; Acting Dean; Dean; Deputy Vice- Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor. Indeed, as a former Vice-Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, his alma mater, he has the distinction of being the first alumnus of the University to hold the office. Professor Olaitan has written extensively on Governance and its processes and the State and the Nigerian State in particular, authoring an outstanding thesis on the Hanging State in Nigeria and is co-editor of Issues in Nigerian Politics, a book of readings on major issues affecting Nigerian politics. He was also a Visiting Professor of Political Science at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria. Professor Olaitan is an intellectual with a radical and progressive orientation, and this has resulted in his engagement with the community through critical contributions to national debate in top national newspapers and magazines in Nigeria, including being a columnist in some of them. He has been a member of the Editorial Board of the Nigerian Tribune for over two decades and is currently the Chairman of that Board. He was also on the Editorial Board of Nigerian Compass and served as Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Westerner. Professor Olaitan has also been recipient of many academic and professional awards and recognitions including being one of the three Nigerian Special Representatives on the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Committee on Governance and Popular Participation, 2009 in addition to being Consultant to Ogun State Government, Niger State Government, Unicef and UNECA. He is also member of national and international professional bodies such as Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA), Nigerian Society of International Affairs (NSIA), African Political Science Association (AAPS), International Political Science Association (IPSA) and the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).