Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, and former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, are set to join other distinguished personalities as lecturers at the 35th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA). The event will take place at the University of Ibadan from June 9 to 11, 2026.
Conference Theme and Host
The conference, hosted by the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, will focus on evaluating Nigeria's democratic journey and governance experience under civil rule since 1999. President of the Association, Prof. Hassan Saliu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Ilorin on Wednesday.
Schedule of Events
According to Prof. Saliu, participants are expected to arrive on June 9, while the opening ceremony will take place on June 10. The conference will conclude on June 11. He described the event as a significant gathering for intellectual engagement on contemporary political issues, attracting academics, policymakers, students, and members of the public from across the country.
Chaired by Prof. A.M. Okolie
The conference will be chaired by the immediate past President of the Association and current Vice-Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Prof. A.M. Okolie. Other notable speakers include Prof. Haruna Dlakwa, Prof. Alade Fawole, and Prof. S.S. Ibaba.
Election of New Executive Committee
Beyond the lecture sessions, a major highlight will be the election of a new executive committee to steer the affairs of the Association for the next two years. The conference will also feature the conferment of Fellowship and Honoured Membership awards on deserving members.
Award Recipients
Among those to be honoured are former Minister and Ambassador, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; renowned political scientist, Prof. John Ayoade of the defunct Centre for Democratic Studies, Abuja; and former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, alongside other recipients.
The NPSA conference is one of the foremost annual gatherings of political scientists in Nigeria, providing a platform for scholarly discourse on governance, democracy, and national development.
