The historic Trenchard Hall at the University of Ibadan was abuzz on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, as scholars from across Nigeria and beyond gathered for the opening ceremony of the Annual Ibadan International Social Science Conference (AIISC). Themed “Social Science in a Changing World: Challenges, Socio-economic Adaptation and Resilience,” the conference was organised by the Faculty of the Social Sciences and anchored by criminologist Professor Oludayo Tade.
From left, Professora Adebayo Olukoshi, Sylvester Odion Akhaine and Professor Antonia Taiye Simbine
The event, held from June 16–19, kicked off on Monday with a pre-conference training workshop featuring Professor Joshua Aransiola (Obafemi Awolowo University) on “Understanding Social Science Research Methods,” and Professor Oyedunni Arulogun (Vice Chancellor, Chrisland University) on “Proposal and Grant Writing.” Though intended for postgraduate students in social sciences, the workshop drew enthusiastic participation from students across various faculties. The Dean of the Faculty, Professor B. O. Ehigie, noted that the training is aimed to sharpen research and grant-writing skills among emerging scholars.
Delivering the keynote paper titled “Social Sciences for Changing Times”, renowned scholar, Professor Adebayo Olukoshi, from Wits School of Governance, University of Witwaterstrand, South Africa, condemned the unification of curriculum for universities in Nigeria, asking the Federal Government to rethink its position if its agenda is not to destroy Nigeria’s education system. He challenged the drive toward curriculum standardisation across Nigerian universities, describing it as counterproductive and a threat to intellectual innovation, stressing, “It is unhelpful and it is the shortest cut to killing discussion and debate in a sector of knowledge production where innovation and capacity to transform comes from debates and disagreements.” “We are not preparing students for the world of yesterday,” he stressed, advocating for diverse curricular approaches aligned with institutional strengths and global paradigms.
argued against the imposition of uniform academic content, citing international examples such as the University of Chicago’s quantitative emphasis in their educational system and the New School in New York’s qualitative tradition. He urged Nigerian policymakers, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, to focus on setting broad minimum standards that reflect national development needs rather than mirroring foreign benchmarks. He emphasised, “It makes no sense to straightjacket everybody with a framework made obsolete every day by a rapidly changing world.”
The professor also lamented the decline of indigenous academic journals and the resulting fragmentation of scholarly discourse within Nigerian universities. Drawing from his tenure as Executive Secretary of the Social Science Council, Olukoshi decried the demise of reputable local publications like the Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, and advocated for their revival. He proposed the establishment of regulatory frameworks to ensure quality control and international credibility. “We must invest in our own journals and encourage our best scholars to publish in them. That is how knowledge communities are built, and how countries like China made academic breakthroughs,” he concluded.
In his presentation, “The Challenge of Social Science Research in a Changing Global Order,” Professor Sylvester Odion Akhaine of Lagos State University, called attention to the pressing challenges facing academics in the 21st century, urging scholars to remain ethically grounded amid rapid technological transformation and global shifts.
LOC
In his discourse, Akhaine drew on the intellectual contributions of the late Nigerian political scientist and sociologist, Peter Ekeh, who viewed colonialism as a social movement transcendental to historical periodization. According to Ekeh, “epochs introduce qualitative social changes,” and such shifts alter the core parametres and values upon which societies are built. Akhaine emphasised that social change is both transitional and epochal, fluid, yet predictable, and that each historical turn fundamentally redefines the context and conduct of scholarship.
Charting the trajectory of knowledge production, Akhaine examined transformative eras: the Middle Ages marked by scholasticism and religious dominance; the Enlightenment, known for its rationalism and pursuit of utopian ideals; and the Cold War era, when bipolar ideological contest between capitalism and socialism shaped global thought. He argued that the end of bipolarity gave rise to a new global order, where knowledge production is now driven by complex international dynamics and advanced technology.
Focusing on the contemporary period, Akhaine identified two defining developments: the global uncertainty in the international system and the rise of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR). At the heart of FIR is Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), which he described as technologies merging digital, physical, and biological realms with profound effects on social and economic relations. He highlighted AI’s enormous potential in research, particularly in data analysis, literature synthesis, and writing, with tools like GPT-4, Elicit, and Grammarly now assisting researchers at various stages. However, Akhaine cautioned scholars against the misuse of AI, warning of ethical risks, especially plagiarism, and the potential detachment from critical thinking.
In closing, Professor Akhaine urged social scientists to embrace technological tools responsibly while remaining anchored to core research values. “We must not allow the power of machines to override the human conscience in scholarship. The utility of AI in research is vast, but aligning it with human values is the urgent task before us,” he urged.
Addressing the topic “Socioeconomic Adaptations and Resilience in a Changing World: Charting a Pathway for Nigeria,” Professor A.T. Simbine, Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), asserted that the world is undergoing rapid, multidimensional transformations with far-reaching impacts, and Nigeria must act decisively to remain relevant and resilient. She examined global trends reshaping societies, including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, climate change, shifting trade patterns, and demographic transitions, and called for proactive, evidence-based strategies to address Nigeria’s specific development challenges.
Professor Simbine observed that while these global changes present potential opportunities, Nigeria’s internal vulnerabilities, ranging from insecurity and poverty to institutional weaknesses and economic volatility, severely limit the country’s capacity to adapt. “Nigeria’s rich natural resources and large population are assets, but persistent issues such as corruption, unemployment, a fragile oil-dependent economy, and poor governance continue to hinder progress,” she said. The paper advocated for urgent, systemic reforms focusing on human capital development, macroeconomic stability, digital innovation, and social protection.
Central to Nigeria’s successful adaptation and resilience, Simbine emphasised, is the need for sound political and governance frameworks. She urged the implementation of electoral reforms to foster inclusive democracy, institutional strengthening for rule of law, and transparent digital governance. Achieving this transformation, she argued, requires not only bold leadership and policy reforms but also the collective commitment of all stakeholders, including government, academia, civil society, and the private sector. “Only through coordinated efforts, integrity, and strategic partnerships, can Nigeria secure a sustainable future and assume its rightful place in a rapidly changing global order,” Simbine concluded.
Earlier, UI Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, called for a renewed focus on the relevance of social sciences in addressing today’s complex global realities. Describing the event’s theme as timely and urgent, said the current era is marked by volatility, complexity, and technological disruption.
Professor Adebowale emphasised that traditional structures are rapidly evolving, and disciplines like Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, and Anthropology must serve as critical lenses for diagnosing the root causes of societal challenges such as conflict, poverty, and environmental degradation. He also asserted that these fields should not remain abstract but instead help design adaptive strategies and policies to respond to global shifts, including the digital revolution and labour market changes.
Professor Adebowale outlined three essential roles the social sciences must play: diagnosing interconnected problems, charting pathways for adaptation, and cultivating resilience through social cohesion and economic flexibility. He charged academics and researchers to move beyond theoretical work to produce knowledge that inspires transformative change in communities.
According to him, it is not enough to recognise the importance of the Social Sciences; the disciplines must actively bridge the gap between research and policymaking, collaborate with civil society, and engage the broader public with clarity and purpose.
Highlighting internal challenges within the Social Sciences, the Vice Chancellor urged a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, noting that issues like climate change transcend any single field. He stressed the need for contextual sensitivity, urging scholars to align theories and models with Africa’s specific socio-economic and historical realities, especially Nigeria’s case. He also advocated for the inclusion of indigenous knowledge systems and ethical considerations in applying new technologies such as artificial intelligence.
In addition, Prof. Adebowale emphasised the importance of equipping the next generation of scholars with critical thinking, practical skills, and entrepreneurial mindset to apply their expertise to real-world problems.
The four-day conference, which brought together thought leaders, policymakers, students, and early-career researchers, served as a vital platform for reflection and renewal. With an array of paper presentations, robust dialogue, and shared commitments, AIISC 2025 reaffirmed the central role of social sciences in decoding the present and reimagining the future.
