All roads led to the historic Trenchard Hall in the University of Ibadan (UI), on Thursday, March 14, 2024, for the 545th Inaugural Lecture of the nation’s Premier University, which was delivered by Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson, the first female lecturer in the institution’s Department of Political Science. The inaugural lecture, which is the 11th from the Department of Political Science of the Faculty of The Social Sciences, is titled, “The World in Transition: Understanding Power in the International Political System”. The first inaugural lecture from the department titled, “Scepticism as Political Virtue”, was delivered by Professor Billy Dudley in 1975. Pogoson noted that her inaugural lecture was her 3rd public lecture presentation at the university. Her first public lecture was the maiden departmental lecture in 2013, focusing on terrorism and Nigeria’s national identity and the 2nd was the 22nd Faculty Lecture of the Faculty of The Social Sciences in 2018, where she held that the rise of other powers was threatening the unipolar hegemony of the United States of America by creating conditions for a new multipolar world order.
Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson with UI Principal Officers, Provosts, Others
The occasion was presided over by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, who was accompanied by the three deputy vice-chancellors, Olamakinde Olapegba (Admin), Aderonke Baiyeroju (Academic), and Oluyemisi Bamgbose (Research Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, RISP), Registrar, Ganiyu Saliu, and the Librarian, Dr. Mercy Ariomerebi Iroaganachi. Former Vice Chancellors, Professors Olufemi Bamiro, and Abel Idowu Olayinka, former Deputy Vice Chancellors, Professor Adigun Agbaje and Yinka Aderinto, Professor Niyi Osundare, the former Chairman of Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Professor Adeolu Akande, students, family, and friends were in attendance.
Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson and her husband, Professor Ohioma Ifounu Pogoson
In her preamble, Pogoson established that “the global political system consists of numerous actors, each with varying degrees of autonomy, engaging in structured interactions to exert influence on one another.” According to her, “their independent decisions and policies, serve as catalysts for each other, either encouraging or limiting the actions of others.” She argued that “the high degree of interdependent transactions among the actors in the contemporary political, social and economic spheres means that no actor is fully autonomous.” She further postulated, “The world order, as it is today, has passed through significant temporal shifts in global power dynamics during which different countries, regions, and groups exerted varied levels of influence”, adding, “These changes inevitably reconstitute power relations among proximate and distant players and forces.” Noting that the common ground in the scholarship of International Relations is power, she proved, “all lasting international orders have historically relied on stable power distribution and a basic agreement among nations regarding the principles of conduct.”
UI VC, Professor Kayode Omobowale Presenting a Scroll to Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson
Examining the trajectory of the power shift on the global scene, Pogoson pointed out that after the twelve years of the First and Second World Wars, Europe, particularly, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, the major world political actors lost its status politically and economically as the epicentre of international politics, leading to a power vacuum in the region that was filled by the United States of America and the Soviet Union. She noted that after the war, the USA and USSR got engaged in a cold war due to economic-political polarisation stressing, “For four decades, the world order was unquestionably a bipolar system. The underlying rivalry of communism and capitalism became the dominant and constitutive divide in world affairs, with other countries choosing between the two camps or remaining non-aligned. By 1949, an arms race to develop the most powerful nuclear weapons further defined their relationship.”
Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson with staff of The Faculty of the Social Sciences
She argued, “the weakened state of Europe set the stage for the liberation of African, Asian and Middle East countries from the shackles of imperialism and colonialism”, adding, “International relations, thus, began developing a truly global character. However, the conclusion of bipolar competition, the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the reunification of Germany, significant nuclear disarmament, and the decline of communism… contributed to ushering in a new era of global politics marked by American unipolarity. The United States’ position during the two decades following the Cold War, was one of economic and military dominance. The events and trends that manifested themselves post-9/11, however, demonstrated the American vulnerability just as the American economy experienced a recession that stirred pronouncements of the beginning of the end of the American ‘single-superpower’ status. Furthermore, the world came to recognise the presence of non-state actors capable of exerting significant influence on the behaviour of major state actors.”
Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson flanked by her husband, Prof. Ohioma Ifounu and former UIVC, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka
Pogoson informed her audience that the global system has moved away from a bipolar system as the 21st century has indicated a shift towards a new multipolar global system, reiterating that economic and political powers are becoming diffused as fast-growing nations like China, Russia, India, Brazil, Turkey and a number of others emerge. She affirmed, “Globally, a multitude of forces are reshaping the world. A plethora of new countries and actors are emerging as influential global contenders. The traditional division between the core and periphery – comprising affluent, industrialised nations and developing countries, respectively – is increasingly fading. An economic and political power shift is underway, marked by a diminishing influence of the “West” and a corresponding rise of the “East”. The emerging economies are ascending as regional powers and, even attaining global influence and actively reshaping the world order. Examples are the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the BRICS group. Both organisations have the potential to establish the groundwork for providing an alternative to the Western-led global system, or a new bloc capable of challenging Western influence in certain regions.”
From left, former UI VC, Professors Olufemi Bamiro, Adigun Agbaje and Remi Aiyede
Assessing the prospects of Nigeria in the current and emergent world order, Pogoson aligned with other scholars’ opinion that Nigeria has long been expected to assume a prominent role in both global and African politics as well as Nigeria possessing a manifest destiny to emerge as a leading voice and actor in African and international affairs, due to her vast physical size, huge population, and abundant natural resources. She opined that over the last 64 years, “the conduct and administration of Nigeria’s foreign policy, despite the numerous external and internal challenges, has witnessed notable successes which suggest the possibility of a broader range of achievements if only lessons can be learnt and reform initiatives properly launched.”
Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson with the VC, DVCs and Librarian
Narrowing the paper down to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a foreign policy agenda representing a deliberate shift towards more intentional, dynamic, and value-driven foreign relations, termed ‘Nigeria’s 4-D Renewed Foreign Policy Doctrine’, comprising democracy, demography, development, and diaspora.
She said, “Whilst an assessment of President Tinubu’s foreign policy direction may be premature, a clearer articulation of the essentials of this doctrine, in terms of its achievable concrete policies and actions, is urgently required. Clearly, repositioning Nigeria as a global actor, and achieving the goals of the 4-D diplomacy, requires fixing Nigeria’s domestic challenges, tackling the prevalence of corruption and multidimensional poverty, safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians, guaranteeing the security of Nigeria and Nigerians and building a strong economy and currency. Moreover, it is absolutely important to silence the guns within the states as well as throughout the Gulf of Guinea, Sahel, and West Africa.”
Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson and her colleagues at The Faculty of Social Sciences
Shifting the focus to her secondary area of scholarship which is gendered political participation in Nigeria, Pogoson argued that the existing literature and common perception correlate power, politics, and political participation with masculinity. She said, “The resultant absence of women’s voices in these realms contributes to the exclusion of the experiences of half of the world’s population in the global political sphere. This calls for the dismantling of the internal power structures that drive gender inequality and hinder societal progress.”
Further affirming women’s marginalisation and disempowerment in the political process, she stated, “The participation of women politically has remained dreadfully low, with women occupying below 10 percent of political posts since 1960 – this is an eloquent testament to the persistence of male dominance and gender prejudice in the political domain. The outcomes of the 2023 elections specifically provoke misgivings regarding the participation and representation of women and underscore the persistent systemic restrictions on women’s representation in Nigerian party politics…. Governance in Nigeria should therefore be inclusive and reflective of the society. National decision-making structures, including foreign policymaking, must be gender-responsive…”
Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson with the institution’s spokesperson, Joke Akinpelu
Rounding off her presentation, Pogoson averred that one major problem to global peace and security has emanated from non-state actors or forces such as Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Boko Haram, Taliban, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the like. She stated, “These non-state actors represent a challenge that is likely to escalate rather than reduce over the next several decades. Also of great concern is NATO’s eastward expansion in Europe as well as the war in Ukraine, the Hamas-Israeli war, and the US-UK airstrikes on the Houthi military sites in Yemen. They constitute great threats to global security… As middle and small powers as well as non-state actors seriously threaten and undermine global security and peace, nobody can predict how the dominoes will fall. However, a return to a multi-polar world, characterised by conflicts, is, more than a fable; it is increasingly becoming more probable.”
Concerning the African continent, Pogoson said, “Over the past decade, the activities of insurgents, uprisings, and coups, pose serious risks for the broader region and Sahel’s security landscape. They also have the tendency to attract self-serving paternalistic superpowers, particularly, the United States, China, and Russia. The ferment in the Sahel, especially the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS calls for a major rethink of Nigeria’s foreign policy. Two recent developments support this imperative. The first is Morocco’s efforts in December 2023 to build its ties with other African countries and help the continent’s development by promoting and facilitating access of the Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean.”
Professor Aituaje Irene Pogoson with Mr. and Mrs. Adesina (front), Dr. Stephen Lafenwa, and Dr Olajide Akanji
“The second development is the case instituted in December 2023 by South Africa against Israel at the World Court concerning the alleged Israeli ‘genocidal conduct’ in the war against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Can Nigeria play a significant role in these two situations? For me, to realise the oft-repeated claim that Nigeria is the giant of Africa, she has to find ways to influence the processes, structures, and behaviour of the international system. Moreover, for Nigeria to maintain relevance in the new world order, it must restructure the national economy, ensure the welfare of Nigerians, guarantee the security of Nigeria and Nigerians, and redefine her national interests. Political leaders must make democracy work by strengthening its processes and institutions as well as promoting inclusive political participation. A nation failing to navigate both domestic and foreign policies adeptly cannot thrive and succeed in the evolving global landscape”, she suggested.
Connecting education to soft power, Pogoson established that “there is an incontrovertible link between global power standing and education”, explaining, “A nation’s standing in the global arena is intricately linked to the strength of its education sector and the equitable compensation of its educators”. She stressed, “For Nigeria, this connection holds profound implications, shaping the country’s trajectory in terms of economic development, innovation, and international competitiveness.”
Attendees
She opined, “In the context of Nigeria’s global positioning, a faltering education sector undermines the country’s ability to compete effectively in the global marketplace. With an inadequately skilled workforce, Nigeria may struggle to attract foreign investment, innovate, and participate in knowledge-intensive industries critical for sustained economic growth. Also, Nigeria’s role in shaping regional stability and fostering democratic values hinges on the strength of its education sector. A well-educated populace is better equipped to navigate complex socio-economic and political dynamics, contributing to peace, stability, and good governance within the region. Furthermore, these challenges are exacerbated by the underpayment of lecturers and the resulting brain drain. This brain drain weakens the education system and diminishes Nigeria’s influence and standing on the world stage. In fact, ask our students how many of them want to become lecturers. You may not see any hand up!”
“In essence, Nigeria’s place in the world is intricately linked to the vitality of its education sector and the fair treatment of its educators. By prioritizing investment in education and ensuring the equitable compensation of lecturers, Nigeria can enhance its global competitiveness, foster innovation, and strengthen its influence on the world stage”, she concluded.
The astute political Scientist, who specialises in International Relations and Gender studies, is the current and first female Head of the Department of Political Science and a proud mother of three diasporic ladies: Iwaoya, Ozienikhaye, and Esesua, married to Matthew, Nnamdi, and Sowunmi, respectively and grandchildren: Osonobruwerhunu, Chimamanda, Osonobruwemega, Zioraifechi, Oluwadurotimi, and Oluwatamilore.
Eulogising her husband, Ohioma Ifounu Pogoson, a Professor of Visual Arts at the institution’s Institute of African Studies, whom she described as her soul mate, Pogoson noted that the occasion would not have been possible without his love and support. She declared, “You stole my heart and I stole yours”. She prayed that they will continue to enjoy the gift of love the Almighty has given them.
Born on Friday, July 8, 1960, in the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, to the family of late Sir Albert U. and Lady Cecelia E. Oboite, Pogoson attended Abadina Primary School, University of Ibadan, for her primary school education. She attended Yejide Girls Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan, for her secondary school education. Afterwards, she proceeded to the International School, University of Ibadan, for her Higher School Certificate (HSC). She gained admission to the University of Ibadan in 1976 to study for a BA degree in history. She graduated with 2nd Class (Hons) in 1982. She then served as a corps member under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), from 1981 to 1982, in Kwara State. She went on to obtain her MSc degree in Political Science in 1983, and PhD in Political Science in 1994.
She began her career in 1982 as a research fellow and administrative secretary with the Presidential Panel on Nigeria since Independence History Project, University of Ibadan, a federal-government-funded research project chaired by Professor Tekena N. Tamuno. She joined the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan in July 2000 as Lecturer II. Professor Pogoson was promoted to the rank of full Professor in October 2018. In 2022, she became the first female head of the department.
