OKAJARE Solomon Tai
Email address(es): sokajare@oauife.edu.ng
Office Address: Room 307B, Humanities Block II, Department of History
Academic Qualifications: Ph.D
Areas of Specialization: African Diplomatic and Socio-cultural History
Title of M.A. Thesis:Akoko-Owo Relations, Earliest Times to 1935: A Study in Intergroup Relations in Northeastern Yorubaland
Title of Ph.D. Thesis:The Akoko-Yoruba and Their Neighbours, 1800-1960: A Study in Intergroup Relations
Ongoing Current Research:
Reconsidering the China-Africa Relations in the Context of Contemporary Reality: A Focus on FOCAC since 2000
Publications:
Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journal
Pre-colonial Inter-group Relations in Northeastern Yorubaland: The Akoko – Owo example. IRORO: A Journal of Faculty of Arts. Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Nigeria, 10 (1&2): 2005, 12-17
Nigerian Federalism and the Challenges of Revenue Allocation: A Historical Perspective. IRORO: Journal of Faculty of Arts, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Nigeria, 11 (1&2): 2006, 137-151
The Colonial Factor in Akoko-Owo Inter-group Relations in Northeastern Yorubaland. A. A. U.: African Studies Review, Department of History and International Studies, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria, 4&5 (1): 2006, 41-62
Constitutional Conference and National Integration in Nigeria: The Colonial Phase in Historical Perspective. Journal of Social Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan, 4 (1): 2010, 25-42
Between Principle and Practice: NEPAD as an Indicator of Afro-centrism in Nigerian Foreign Policy. European Scientific Journal, European Scientific Institute, London, United Kingdom, 8 (14): 2012, 210-222
Understanding Relationship Management in Pre-colonial Yorubaland: A Perspective on Strategies of the Akoko Communities. Centrepoint Journal (Humanities), Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, 16 (1): 2013, 1-18
Indigenous Political Economy and Social Organization in Southwestern Nigeria: An Ethnographic Survey of the Akoko Communities in the Pre-colonial Era. Journal of Studies in Humanities, College of Humanities, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria, 5 (2): 2013, 168-181
Towards Unifying the Yoruba Nation for Survival Within Multi-ethnic Nigeria: A Perspective on Roles of Traditional Rulers. Ado Journal of History and International Studies, Department of History & International Studies, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria, 1 (1): 2014, 13-30
Common Strategies by Different ‘Enemies’: Interrogating the Rapture and Rupture of the Monarchy in Nigeria, 1900-1960. Akungba Journal of Historical Studies, Department of History & International Studies, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria, 13 & 14: 2014, 14-31
Sino-Western Rivalry as a New Trajectory of Neo-Imperialism: A Critical Challenge for African Diplomacy and Development. Social Transformations: Journal of Global South, Ateneo de Manila University, Manila Philippines, 3 (1): 2015, 27-55
Pre-colonial Imperialism and Group Identity in Africa: A Historical Reconsideration of the Akoko-Yoruba Experience under Nupe Hegemony, 1840-1897. AMU: Journal of the Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria, 2 (1): 2015, 49-67
The Political Economy of the Ogoni and the Agitation for Resource Control in the Niger Delta. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, International Institute for Science, Technology and Education, USA, 6 (15): 2016, 39-48, co-authored with Bayo Fatukasi
Nigeria in the Global System, 1960-1975: Exploring the Foundation of an Emergent African State’s International Relations. International Affairs and Global Strategy, International Institute for Science, Technology and Education, USA, 47: 2016, 11-22
European Prejudice and African Reality: Reconsidering State Formation and Indigenous Governance in Owo Kingdom. Historical Research Letter, International Institute for Science, Technology and Education, USA, 35: 2016, 32-39 1
Technology and Knowledge Expansion in Africa: Implications for Youth’s Socialization, Psychological Fulfillment and Nation-building Responsibilities”. Modern Africa: Politics, History and Society, Philosophical Faculty, University of Hradec Králove, Czech Republic, 4 (2): 2016, 141-171
Emplacing Nigeria as Peaceful and Secure State in the International System: The Monarchy’s Intervention as an Imperative. West Bohemian Historical Review, Journal of the Department of Historical Sciences, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic, III (1): 2018, 67-8
State Institutions as Instrument of Foreign Policy: An Appraisal of Nigeria Police Force’s International Peacekeeping Operations, 1960-2005. Yonsei Journal of International Studies, Graduate School of International Studies, Yonsei University, Japan Vol. X, Issue 2: 2018, 197- 211, co-authored with Daniels Famoye
Globalization, Cultural Diversity and Skewed Hybridization as Triple Helix of African Development Burden: The Nigerian Example”. Canadian Social Science, Canadian Academy of Oriental and Occidental Culture CAOOC, Quebec, Canada, 18 (5): 2022, 87-97.
Chapters in Books
A History of Nigeria’s Foreign Relations, 1960-2000. In S. O. Arifalo and ‘Gboyega Ajayi (eds.) Essays in Contemporary Nigerian History (Lagos: First Academic Publishers, 2003), 166-193
Traditions of Origin, Migration and Settlement Patterns among Akoko Communities in North-Eastern Yorubaland. In Akin Alao and Tunde Babawale (eds.) Culture and Society in Nigeria: Traditions, Gender Relations and Political Economy (Lagos: Centre for Black and African Arts and Culture, 2008), 38-55
The Military Factor in the Pre-colonial Patterns of Inter-State Relations in Akoko Region of Yorubaland. In Tunde Babawale and Olukoya Ogen (eds.) Culture and Society in Nigeria: Traditions, Gender Relations and Political Economy (Lagos: Centre for Black and African Arts and Culture, 2008), 200-214, co-authored with ‘Gboyega Ajayi
The Red Cross Society and the Humanitarian Burden of the Liberian Civil War: An Exploratory Survey. In Adam K. arap Chepkwony and Peter M. J. Hess (eds.) Human Views on God: Variety Not Monotony (Eldoret: Moi University Press, 2010), 187-194
Godfatherism as a Factor in Nigerian Politics since Independence. In Sofela Babatunde, Edo Victor O. and Olaniyi Rasheed O. (eds.) Nigeria at 50: Politics, Society and Development (Ibadan: John Archers, 2013), 402-415, with Afe, Adedayo Emmanuel
Oral Sources in the Reconstruction of African History: Issues and Challenges of Methodology” in R.T. Akinyele (ed.) History and Diplomacy: Essays in Honour of Ade Adefuye (Glassborough, New Jersey: Goldline and Jacobs, 2017), 71-89
A Short Professional Profile
Dr. Solomon Tai Okajare holds a PhD, History from the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria He is currently a Reader at the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, where he has successfully established himself as a specialist and distinguished scholar in the connecting fields of African diplomatic, socio-cultural and contemporary military history. He has enriching historical scholarship by his capacity to apply theories and concepts to analyse Nigerian and African historical events for global academic audience. His research trajectory sits at the intersection of intergroup relations, diplomacy, history of international relations, identity studies, contemporary military history, security, peacebuilding and conflict management within the Nigerian and African spectra. His publications have appeared as articles in reputable local, national and international journals, authored books, book chapters, and a monograph. He continues to lead and participate in ground-breaking collaborative and multi-disciplinary studies with colleagues and mentees, thus building a strong network of scholarship.
For over two decades, Dr. Okajare has excellently taught African, and European histories, historiography, philosophy and methods of history, international relations, Nigerian peoples and cultures, peace, security and conflict resolution at undergraduate and postgraduate classes in many Nigerian universities; and an undergraduate class history of science and technology in Canada. Additionally, he has supervised many undergraduate research projects, and postgraduate theses. He has severally served as internal/external examiner in Masters and doctoral Vivas within Obafemi Awolowo University, as well as external examiner in masters and doctoral Vivas at University of Ibadan, Nigeria and University of Buckingham, UK respectively. Currently, he is (on contract) supervising a doctoral candidate in Modern War Studies at the University of Buckingham, UK. He has learnt the rubrics of university administration, having served in many capacities at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko up to September 11, 2013, and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife since September 12, 2013, where he served meritoriously as Acting Head of Department (August 1, 2020 – July 31, 2022). He has participated in local and international conferences, symposia, workshops and roundtable talks where he presented thought-provoking papers, and gained immense exposure.
In addition to his exceptional teaching, administrative and research profile, Dr. Okajare is involved in community service having served as Supervisor for Education and Community Development (a political appointment) in the local government, and in ad hoc capacity with some national bodies including National Population Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission and National Commission for Nomadic Education. He runs a registered consultancy outfit to enhance his research and community service engagements with focus on historical research, biography writing and other academic pursuits.