In a remarkable academic feat, Eyitayo Tolulope Ijisakin, a distinguished professor in the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, has been awarded the prestigious Global Fellowship of the University of St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom, for the 2024/2025 academic year.

The Global Fellowship Scheme is a highly competitive and coveted award that brings together a select group of the world’s leading academics. Designed to foster academic excellence, this scheme offers Fellows the opportunity to spend up to a month at St Andrews, where they can advance research and education, strengthen collaborative partnerships, and engage deeply with the university’s intellectual community.

With a rigorous application, nomination, and selection process, only the most exceptional scholars make it through. Professor Ijisakin’s selection for this distinguished program underscores his outstanding contributions to the field of Fine and Applied Arts, particularly his expertise in African art history and visual arts scholarship.

During his tenure as a Global Fellow, Dr Ijisakin will be engaging with faculty members, undergraduate and postgraduate students at the School of Art History in St Andrews. He will deliver a series of thought-provoking lectures, sharing insights from his extensive research and creative endeavors. As a visual artist and a scholar, his presence is expected to enrich the intellectual landscape of the university, fostering cross-cultural academic dialogue and artistic exchange.

Beyond the lecture halls, Professor Ijisakin will visit the Dundee Contemporary Art Print Studio, a hub of contemporary artistic expression. He will also conduct an assessment of the works of the renowned African art scholar, Frank Willett, housed at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. These engagements will not only enhance his research but will also contribute to the broader discourse on African art within global artistic and historical narratives.

Professor Ijisakin’s recognition as a Global Fellow is a testament to his scholarly excellence and the growing international relevance of African art studies. His achievement reflects the increasing prominence of Nigerian academics on the global stage and serves as an inspiration to aspiring scholars in the field of Fine and Applied Arts.

As he embarks on this distinguished fellowship, the academic community eagerly anticipates the insights and collaborations that will emerge from his time at the University of St Andrews.