Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, will host its 36th Inaugural Lecture, to be delivered by Prof. Olu Emmanuel Alana, a distinguished scholar in New Testament Studies.
According to a statement by the Chairman of the Ceremonies Committee and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin.), Prof. Adebisi Daramola, the lecture is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, 2025. It will take place at the University Multipurpose Hall, beginning at 2:00 PM, with guests expected to be seated by 1:30 PM. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, will preside over the event.
The lecture, titled “Decolonizing the New Testament’s Portraits and Narratives in Africa,” will explore critical perspectives on biblical narratives within the African context.
Prof. Alana holds a Diploma in Religious Studies (with distinction), a First-Class B.A. in Religious Studies, and an M.A. in New Testament Studies, all from the University of Ibadan in 1978, 1982, and 1984, respectively. He earned his Ph.D. in Religious Studies (New Testament) from the University of Ilorin in 1993.
His academic career began in 1987 as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Ilorin, where he rose to the rank of Senior Lecturer in 1995.
He later joined Kogi State University, Anyigba, in 2006 as a professor. Between the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 academic sessions, he served as a visiting lecturer at AAUA before being reappointed as a professor at the university on March 27, 2015.
Prof. Alana has held various leadership positions at AAUA, including Head of the Department of Religion and African Culture, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Managing Editor of AMU: Faculty of Arts Journal, and Editor-in-Chief of Akungba Journal of Religion and African Culture.
His scholarly contributions include authoring two books, contributing to 15 others, editing six books, and publishing over 50 journal articles worldwide.
He has supervised 23 postgraduate students, including eight Ph.D. candidates.
Beyond AAUA, he has served as an External Examiner for 17 Nigerian universities, evaluating over 150 Master’s dissertations, more than 100 Ph.D. oral examinations, and 70 professorial reviews across universities and seminaries in Nigeria.
He is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Association for the Study of Religions (NASR), Nigerian Association for Biblical Studies (NABIS), Nigerian Association for Christian Studies (NACS), and the New Testament Society of South Africa (NTSSA).
Prof. Alana has received numerous awards and fellowships, including the Best Graduating Student and Best Long Essay Student (1981/82) at the University of Ibadan, a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Pretoria, and a Meritorious Service Award from the Ondo State Students’ Union, University of Ilorin.
He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Religion (FAR), awarded by NASR.
His upcoming inaugural lecture promises to offer insightful perspectives on biblical studies and their relevance to African scholarship.
