Nigeria: Oxford Stands Still for Abdul Raufu Mustapha

16 March 2018
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On Sunday and Monday, the community of scholars working on African related issues organised tributes and a major debate of the achievements of Professor Abdul Raufu Mustapha, who died on 8th August 2017. The Sunday event was a day of tributes by family, friends, colleagues and former students from across Europe. It was anchored by Professor Patricia Daley, a colleague and friend of his who announced the decision of Oxford University to launch a scholarship in his name for students coming to study M. Phil in African politics in the university. The resources for the fund have already been sourced and the first recipient has just been selected.

Raufu completed his PhD in St Peters College in Oxford under the supervision of the respected scholar and teacher who had previously taught in the University of Ibadan, Gavin Williams. In his remarks, Gavin described Raufu as one of the most thoughtful and thorough scholars they have had in the university. They came to celebrate Raufu, he said, not just for his exceptional scholarship but also because of the dedication he showed in teaching and supervising students. Gavin Williams said that initially, many in the university were sceptical about the appointment of Professor Mustapha to the prestigious Thomas Hodgkin lectureship. He was later promoted to the post of Kirk Green Fellow in As Anthony College and proved his mettle.

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