As part of its research seminar series, the African Leadership Centre (ALC) is hosting a seminar on the book 'Globalised Resistance and the Bring Back our Girls Movement: New Dimensions of Transnational Activism' with Dr Albert Mbiatem as chair and Dr Titilope Ajay as speaker.

This book uncovers how women’s movements in the Global South are changing the face of transnational activism in their mobilisations against militarism and conflict-related gender violence.

About the book

Drawing on the case study “of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement established by Nigerian women for the rescue of Nigerian schoolgirls abducted in 2014 by violent extremist group Boko Haram, the book argues that BBOG is one of several emerging forms of transnational resistance in Africa that are breaking old moulds and forging new directions for social movements globally. The book argues that current research on social movements focuses too much on professional advocacy by formal civil society organisations and networks in the Global North. In doing so, it misses the increasingly spontaneous, mass-based protests initiated and led by Global South actors grounded in Global South contexts. Unpacking the workings of the BBOG movement, both internationally and regarding on-the-ground daily struggles in Nigeria, the book highlights their considerable implications for the practice and study of international politics.

In the seminar, Dr Titilope Ajayi will reiterate the need to place the spotlight this movement of resistance and its place in international relations, decolonisation, social movements, and transnational human rights activism. A discussant will also provide critical reflections on the book to offer a stimulating intellectual space, after which the audience will be invited for questions and comments.

About the chair

Dr Albert Mbiatem

Albert Mbiatem is a postdoctoral fellow of the Peter Da Costa Postdoctoral Fellowship at the African Leadership Centre (ALC) and a senior lecturer in the Department of International Relations and Conflict Resolution at the University of Buea.

About the speaker

Dr. Titilope F. Ajayi

Dr. Titilope F. Ajayi is an academic and independent researcher, training, and facilitation consultant with specializations in gender/women, conflict, peace and security, civil society, and social movements. With a focus on Africa, her recent work includes scholarly and policy projects on women and violent extremism, gender and humanitarianism, feminist movements, approaches to norm change around gender violence, and new dimensions of transnational activism.

During her 18+ years of experience in international development, Titilope has led and managed research in programmes positions with the International Crisis Group, the West Africa Civil Society Institute, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. She has also consulted for UN Women, DCAF, the Open Government Partnership, the African Security Sector Network, GIZ-ECOWAS, The New Humanitarian, ODI, and other INGOs and international organizations. Fluent in French, Titilope is especially keen on strengthening the evidence-policy nexus in her areas of interest.

She holds a PhD in international affairs and pursues her passion for excellence and equity in African higher education through the Higher Education Leadership Project-Africa, a platform she founded in 2017.

About the discussant

Dr. Fatuma Ahmed Ali

Dr. Fatuma Ahmed Ali is an Associate Professor of International Relations (IR), and Chair, Graduate Studies Committee. She is also a visiting faculty member and an external researcher at the Interuniversity Institute for Social Development & Peace (IUDESP) of the Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain.

Dr. Ahmed Ali is a trainer and an Independent Consultant in the field of Social Development, Gender, Security, Peace, Conflict, Curriculum Review, Accreditation, and Countering Violent Extremism. She has been involved in curriculum development, program learning outcomes assessment, acted as an external examiner, taught graduate and post-graduate programs, and supervised graduate and post-graduate students locally and internationally. Other professional experiences include working as the Co-director of Care Highway International projects in Kenya, security expert assistant for the European Union Election Observation Mission, student coordinator at Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain, primary school teacher, project coordinator, and librarian.

Dr Ahmed Ali has served as an International Observer of Development and Educational projects of SMARA (a local NGO in Castellón, Spain) and the Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain in Saharawi Refugee camps in Tinduf, Algeria. She is also a Board member of the NGO Coalition of Violence Against Women (COVAW). She is an academic activist in Violence against Women and has publication both in Spanish and English.