IFRA training workshop: Designing a PhD research proposal

Dates: January 29th and February 10th, 2020

Location: Board room, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan

For the first workshop of 2020, IFRA-Nigeria offered to follow a small group of research fellows in the design of a strong PhD research proposal. This was a competitive call, which targeted postgraduate students in social sciences a/o humanities who were already in the process of applying for a PhD tenure. The workshop was led by Dr. Cyrielle Maingraud-Martinaud, the deputy director of IFRA-Nigeria and a doctor in Political Sciences from Sciences Po Bordeaux (France).

The workshop was held in two sessions: a first session was organised on January 29^th, a second on February 10^th. The workshops were held at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan and gathered students from University of Lagos (UniLag), University of Ibadan (UI), Awolowo Obafemi University (OAU, Ile-Ife). Each session gathered six postgraduate students selected based on the quality of their applications (the submitted abstract of their PhD proposal and the coherence of their profile).

About the workshop

The workshops were divided into two sessions: The morning was dedicated to sharing tips and best practices in designing a successful PhD research proposal: After a short presentation of do and don’t in the application for PhD, Dr Cyrielle Maingraud-Martinaud introduced the main sections that should be included a proposal (topic, research question(s), body of literature and methodologies).

In the afternoon, the participants had the opportunity to get individual feedbacks and work based on their own proposal. The proposals were discussed, commented, suggestions were made to improve them.

The first cohort of students from the workshop held on January 29^th 2020. From left to right: Clémentine Chazal (IFRA-Nigeria), Allwell Akhigbe (University of Ibadan), Mariam Balogun (University of Ibadan), Henry Okafor (University of Ibadan), Dr. Cyrielle Maingraud-Martinaud (IFRA-Nigeria), Damilola Fagite (University of Ibadan), Samuel Adejugbe (University of Ibadan), Oluwatobiloba Adewunnmi (University of Ibadan)

The second cohort of students from the workshop held on February 10^th 2020. From left to right: Damilola Odekunle (University of Lagos), Omobolanle Joseph Akinniyi (University of Lagos); Dr. Cyrielle Maingraud-Martinaud (IFRA-Nigeria), Kingsley Ogunne (Obafemi Awolowo University), Stefanie Effevottu (University of Ibadan), Saheedat Adetayo (University of Ibadan), Adebayo Adewusi (University of Ibadan)