IFRA lecture on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and First Conference on Ilorin Studies at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State

Manuel Reinert, IFRA-Nigeria Research Associate, gave a lecture on the second Intifada and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the History and International Studies Department, University of Ilorin, on May 30. Manuel Reinert was invited by Dr. Ibrahim Jawondo to deliver this lecture to the post-graduate students of the department with the support of the HOD, Dr. Peter F. Adebayo, who attended the event. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a major issue in international studies and a well discussed subject in Nigerian universities. The goal was to deepen knowledge and trigger discussion on questions such as Zionism, Israeli identity, Palestinian nationalism, the peace process, the US involvement, the role of Arab countries, etc., and explore the period of the second Intifada, one of the tipping points of the conflict.

The same week, IFRA was represented at the First Conference of the Centre for Ilorin Studies, “Ilorin: History, Culture, and Lessons of Peaceful Coexistence”, which took place at the University Auditorium (May 27-29). The region of Ilorin, the most southern Emirate in Nigeria, is located in Yorubaland and is oftentimes described as an example of a harmonious multicultural and multireligious environment in the Federal Republic. The different issues were tackled in an interdisciplinary approach and encompassed the following:
  Islam perspectives on peace and peaceful coexistence
  Interactions of languages in Ilorin
  The theory and practice of medicine in Ilorin
  Inter-faith relations in Ilorin
  Islam and the political economy of Ilorin
  Arabic documentation in Ilorin
  History and ethnography of Ilorin

The event was hosted by Prof. A.G.A.S Oladosu and Prof. A.G Ambali, Vice-Chancelor of the University. Honourable Justice Mustapha Akanbi delivered the keynote address and Prof. Isaac Albert gave the lead presentation.