Professor Victoria Kikelomo Olugbemi, a renowned academic in Socio-Cultural History and Gender Studies, is set to deliver the 40th Inaugural Lecture at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State.
The lecture, titled “Nation Building in Nigeria: the Historical Intersections of Gender, Religion and Culture”, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
The event will be presided over by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Olugbenga Ige, according to a statement released by the Chairman of the University Ceremonies Committee and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Adebisi Daramola. The venue is the University Multipurpose Hall, with the programme beginning at 2:00 pm. Attendees are expected to be seated by 1:30 pm.
Prof. Olugbemi began her academic pursuit with a Bachelor of Arts (Education) in History from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in 1990.
She went on to earn a Master’s and a Ph.D. in History and International Studies from Adekunle Ajasin University in 2004 and 2015, respectively.
She joined the University on January 1, 2001, as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of History and International Studies and rose through the academic ranks to become a professor in 2021.
Over the years, she has taken on more than 30 roles within the institution, including serving as Head of Department, Director of the University Advancement Office, and Director of the Women Studies and Development Centre—now known as the Centre for Gender Studies and Development—where she currently holds the directorial post. She also chaired the Fundraising Sub-Committee for the University’s 25th Anniversary.
Prof. Olugbemi has participated in numerous academic conferences both within and outside Nigeria, including those held in Kenya and the Republic of Benin.
Her scholarly work includes contributions to three books, editorial roles in two, and the publication of over 25 journal articles. She has also supervised four postgraduate dissertations.
She is affiliated with several professional organizations, such as the National Association for the Promotion of Arts and Social Sciences (NAPSASS), Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN), University Women Initiatives of Nigeria (UNIWIN), National Association of Women in Academics (NAWACS), American Studies Association of Nigeria (ASAN), and the Association of Directors of Centres for Gender Studies in Nigeria.
