Dr. Rasheed Olaniyi, University of Ibadan

Understand the funding agency and its research agenda

Leventis Foundation Nigeria was set up in 1988 to continue an existing philanthropic programme.

Leventis Scholarship programme was extended since 1992 to postgraduate level.

Leventis Foundation Fellowship is tenable at SOAS, Centre of African Studies, University of London, UK.

The Fellowship is designed for Nigerian academics to take part in a scheme of collaborative research

You can share your research agenda with Prof. Murray Last, Karin Barber Insa Nolte and other scholars in the UK who are sufficiently familiar with research in Nigeria

The Fellowship enables young scholars working up a PhD thesis into publishable form.

The 2016 Fellowships are awarded in libraries and archives

Duration of Fellowships: 3 months

Leventis Research Co-operation Programme Fellows Dr Ogen

Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Autumn 2008): Ethnic identity and traditional economy of the Ikale people of south-eastern Yorubaland

Dr David EnweremaduDepartment of Political Science, University of Ibadan (Autumn 2008): Anti-corruption and politics in Nigeria in the fourth Republic: 1999-2007.

Dr Ibrahim MalumfashiDepartment of African languages, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (Autumn 2007): The politics of abuse and the poetics of violence in Northern Nigeria, 1046-1966.

Dr Moses MammanDepartment of Geography, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Autumn 2007): Mobility and HIV/AIDS: Issues of reproductive health among long-distance drivers in North-Western Nigeria.

Dr Bolaji BateyeDepartment of Religious Studies, Obfemi Awolowo University (Autumn 2006): Female Leaders of New Gneration Churches as Change – Agents in Yorubaland.

Dr Freeborn OdibohDepartment of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Benin, Ekewan Campus, Benin City (Autumn 2006): Creative Reformation of Existing Traditions in African Art: the Iconography of the Abayomi Barber School.

Dr Charles UkejeDepartment of International Relations, Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife (Autumn 2005): Oil capital, Ethnic nationalism and civil conflicts in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

Dr Mohammed Lawal AminDepartment of Nigerian and African Languages, Ahmadu Bello University (Autumn 2005): Reformism as a theme in the 21st century Hausa religio-political prose.

Dr Asonzeh UkahDepartment of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan (Autumn 2004): The Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Dr Egodi UchenduDepartment of History, University of Nigeria (Autumn 2004): Anioma Women and the Nigerian Civil War, 1966-1979.

Dr Oyeronke OlajubuDepartment of Religions, University of Ilorin (2003)

Dr Jackson Kizza Mukasa (2003) Dr George Tasie

Dept of Religious studies, University of Port Harcourt (2002)

Dr O OkomeTheatre arts Department, University of Calabar (2002)

Dr Mukhtar Umar BunzaDepartment of History, Usmanu Danfodiyo University (Autumn 2001) Shariah and Christian-Muslim Relations in Northern Nigeria: A History of Persistent Encounter.

Mr Umar BurataiDepartment of English and Drama, Ahmadu Bello University (Autumn 2001): Public Spectating and Political Undertones in Durbal Display.

Dr C U UcheDepartment of Banking and Finance, University of Nigeria (Autumn 2000): The Role of the Bank of England in the Monetary and Financial System Development of British West Africa.

Dr Caleb FolorunsoDepartment of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan (Autumn 2000): Ethnoarchaeology in Africa, and Cultural Resource Management in Africa.

Dr Victor A IsumonahDepartment of Political Science, University of Ibadan (Autumn 2000): Oil, Federal Presence, Cultural Diversity and Organising For Change in the Oil-Region of Nigeria.

Mr Dalha WaziriDepartment of History, Bayero University (Autumn 1999): The history of the Gumel Emirate.

Mr Magaji TsohoDepartment of Nigerian and African Languages, Ahmadu Bello University (Autumn 1999): –The Transformation of Hausa Court Song from 1850 to date.

Dr Hannatu A AlahiraHistory Department, Ahmadu Bello University (Autumn 1999): The Role of Women in the Colonial Economy of the Jos Plateau from 1900 to 1960.

Dr Ayodeji OlukojuUniversity of Lagos (Autumn 1998): (Maritime Trade in Lagos, 1914-50).

Dr Emmanuel Olukemi RotimiObafemi Awolowo University (Autumn 1998): A History of Native Administration Police Forces in Nigeria, 1900-1970).

Mr Muhammadu Mustapha GwadabeAhmadu Bello University (Autumn 1997): The Colonial History of Kano mirate.

Dr Aliyu BunzaUsmanu Danfodiyo University (Autumn 1997): Supernatural Forces in Hausa Traditional Medicine

Dr Erharbor IdemudiaUniversity of Ibadan (Autumn 1996) Psychosocial Factors Determining Psychological Disorders Among Prison Inmates in Nigeria.

Dr Joseph EboreimeNational Museum, Benin City (Autumn 1996): Group Identities and Changing Patterns of Alliances in the Niger-Delta, 1890-1991.

Dr Chikelue OfuebeUniversity of Nigeria (Spring 1996): State-Peasant Relations and Land Acquisition.

Dr Bello Daudun BadaUsmanu Danfodiyo University (Spring 1996): Hausa Proverbs.

Dr Lawrence Olufemi AdewoleObafemi Awolowo University (Spring 1996): Yoruba Linguistics and Dialectology.

Dr Dele JegedeUniversity of Ibadan (Autumn 1995): Medical Sociology and Anthropology.

Mr John-Tokpabere AgberiaUniversity of Port Harcourt (Autumn 1995): Nigerian ceramics.

Mr Salisu AbdullahiBayero University Kano (Summer 1993): Social Change, Crime and Society.

Dr Mamman Sani AbdulkadiriBayero University Kano (Summer 1993): British Commercial Firms Dealing with Northern Nigeria, c. 1860-1939.

Research proposal explains your project to the world and grant institutions

It is the only tool to persuade funders and research institutions to support your research project.

Bearing in mind the competitive nature of grants, proposals should be persuasive and creative

A proposal is a ‘sales document’

Research proposal should have an attractive/captivating/engaging title

It should be a short phrase on the subject of the proposal

A proposal should answer five questions: (1)What question or questions do you

address? Grant winning proposals stems from a long

process that begins with an idea. Provide background information/statement

of the problem-concise and direct to the subject matter.

(2) Why does this question arise? (from what scholarly debates or real-world events?)

Why does it matter? Briefly describe the origins and significance of your project

State the social and academic importance of your work.

Address and clarify the purpose of your research

Why does it worth it? Discuss your “statement of the problem”

(3) What previous literature has been written on the question? Describe the “state of the art” on the subject. Distinguish the main and minor perspectives (provide footnotes to relevant literature). Explain the controversies.

Note that literature review is meant to facilitate a critical analysis of the data derived from the study.

Literature review offers an integrated overview of the field/focus of study

Literature review clarifies the research problem From the extant literature, synthesis the

findings and integrate them into the proposal Discuss your objectives. Identify research goals

to be accomplished. Objectives should be specific and measurable (4) What working hypotheses, theories and

conceptualisations will you explore

(5) Discuss your methodology. State reasons for your choice. State how you will use your methodology

Develop a captivating methodology If you’re doing case studies, identify your

cases and explain their selection If you’re doing interviews, explain your

target group and plans. Research in the humanities may not need

research design, hypotheses, research questions or results

However, reviewers and funding agencies may expect you to frame your proposal as such.

Research Plan: Explain when? Timelines and milestones.

Your timeline should list project-related activities, persons responsible for their execution, and the time-frame for their implementation.

The timeline serves as a blueprint for project execution.

Learn the language of grant writing Pay close attention to application

instructions. Follow specific guidelines of the funders Your proposal should be readable, well-

organised, grammatically correct, understandable and properly conceptualised.

Ensure that your budget is justified by your objectives, set goals and research plan

Be courageous, confident and develop a thick skin when applying for grants.

You may contact grant administrators for clarifications, suggestions and preview of proposals.

Note that grants are not for material wealth but for knowledge production.

Avoid outrageous budgets. Yet, don’t under-estimate.

Budget Estimates: This is very critical. It refers to the financial aspect of the proposal. At least six budget items could be identified

(1) Personnel-salaries, per diem, honoraria (2) Equipment (3) Supplies (4) Travels (5) Communication

Administrative Charges

Thank you for listening