The Institute of Africa and Diaspora Studies (IADS) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the School of Architecture, University of Liverpool are set to establish an International Heritage and Coastal Urbanism Research Lab.
This research lab is charged with investigating the dual threat of rapid globalisation and climate change on cities in West Africa, and how these threats affect cultural heritage and the socio-economic livelihoods of the most vulnerable in this region.
The establishment of this lab is funded by the Leverhulme Global Professorship programme. This programme was recently applied for and secured by Professor Taibat Lawanson, a Professor of Urban Management and Governance at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos.
Prof. Lawanson’s selection for this prestigious programme comes on the heels of an ongoing partnership between IADS-UNILAG and School of Architecture at the University of Liverpool, which was recently formalized in an agreement.
Other deliverables from the programme include:
- The establishment of a Joint Masters in Global Urbanism and Heritage between IADS-UNILAG and School of Architecture, University of Liverpool;
- The commencement of an exchange programme wherein Ph.D. students and Postdoctoral researchers from the University of Liverpool engaged in the Lab will be given the privilege of doing research stays in UNILAG, Lagos, and other port cities in West Africa and beyond; and
- organising of Joint Conferences etcetera.
It is believed that this programme will further strengthen the partnership between the two port cities – Lagos and Liverpool.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, on behalf of the University Senate, staff and students congratulate the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies as well as Prof. Taibat Lawanson on this feat.
