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Banjo Profile

Adewale Banjo is a Lagos born distinguished academic, Pan African Public Intellectual and former Havilla University Ag. Vice Chancellor. A University of Ibadan-trained political scientist, he is an expert in governance and development policy with over 30 years of experience. His scholarly works have been published by renowned institutions such as AISA, EISA, CBAAC, the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies, and the World Peace Academy.

Prof. Banjo is a South African NRF-rated scholar, a member of the South African NRF Blue Skies Grant Committee, and a member of the TETFund Scientific Advisory Committee in Nigeria. He is an award-winning social scientist, recognized through research grants like the AAPS-Swedish International Development Agency grant and the LASU-Ford Foundation Research Grant.

His academic contributions extend to membership in prestigious organizations, including the London-based RIIA (Chatham House), the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), and the International Governance and Leadership Academy. Prof. Banjo has also held teaching, research, and advisory roles at esteemed institutions such as Lagos State University (LASU), the University of Cape Town, the University of Venda, and the University of Zululand. Additionally, he has been an adjunct faculty member at UNISA’s School of Business Leadership and Milpark Business School, as well as a Walter Sisulu Visiting Professor. He has also served as the CEO of a Johannesburg-based think-tank and capacity-building institute.

Beyond academia, Prof. Banjo has been a visiting scholar and thought leader at institutions like the South African War College, the South African National Defence College, and the South African Foreign Service Institute. Since 2000, his global engagements have taken him to over 29 countries, fostering international collaborations and cross-cultural academic exchanges.

A celebrated laureate and fellow, Prof. Banjo hold distinguished honours, including the CODESRIA and UNESCO Laureateships, U.S. Fulbright Alumnus, and a British Commonwealth Institute Fellow. He is also a Fellow of the Central European University and the George Soros Open Society Institute, showcasing his commitment to advancing open knowledge and academic freedom. Notably, he is the first African recipient of the AISA-Archie Mafeje Senior Fellowship in South Africa, underscoring his pioneering contributions to African scholarship.

A highly sought-after development consultant, Prof. Banjo has provided advisory services to some of the world’s leading organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), NEPAD/AUDA, and Oxfam GB amongst others. His strategic thinking, policy insights and political intelligence has positioned him as a trusted expert in governance and development, with a proven track record of delivering impactful solutions.

He is currently a Visiting Resource Fellow at the Nigerian Public Service Institute, Foreign Service Academy and an Adjunct faculty at the UniAbuja Leadership Centre where his expertise and strategic insights continue to shape discourse on leadership, governance and statecraft.