Studying at McMaster ‘extremely fulfilling’ for visiting scholar

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[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/lanre.jpg” caption=”Lanre Ikuteyijo, a PhD student in sociology at Nigeria’s Obafemi Awolowo University, has spent the last three months at McMaster studying irregular migration and human right in Africa. He called the experience ‘extremely fulfilling’. Photo by Kelly Smith.”]Although visiting scholar Lanre Ikuteyijo's time at McMaster was short, it had a profound
effect both on himself and his research.

Ikuteyijo, a PhD student in sociology at Nigeria's Obafemi Awolowo University, will soon
head back to his native country after spending three months at McMaster studying
irregular migration and human rights in Africa.

Thanks to the Centre for International Governance Innovation, a Canadian think tank,
and its African Initiative Graduate Research Grant Program, Ikuteyijo was able to land
the short-term placement at McMaster and work with Bonny Ibhawoh, associate
professor of history.

The program aims to build capacity by giving bright, highly-motivated students the
opportunity to discover and impart new learning in a cross-cultural experience.

It was an experience Ikuteyijo called “extremely fulfilling”.

“I've learned how to better balance academic research with teaching and how to better
relate to students,” he said.

Ibhawoh said the placement's benefits were completely reciprocal.

“Lanre has benefited immensely from being at McMaster, but we have also been
fortunate to have him with us,” he said. “His insights and perspectives as a scholar
working in Africa have enriched our own research on human rights and international
migration.”

Ikuteyijo plans to complete his PhD in Nigeria and continue with post-doctoral research.
He hopes to one day use his research to counsel governments in Africa on issues
surrounding irregular migration and human rights.