IFRA-Nigeria is a non-for-profit Institute set up to promote research in the social sciences and the humanities, as well as enhance collaborative work between scholars in France and West Africa. First established in 1990, the Institute is operating from the University of Ibadan (Institute of African Studies). IFRA-Nigeria promotes excellent, pertinent and cutting-edge ’Made in Nigeria’ research in
Social Sciences and the Humanities at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. IFRA-Nigeria fosters field research and international collaborative research projects. It also runs a residency program and is currently developing its capacity to provide accommodation to scholars. IFRA’s mandate includes subsidizing research programs, granting research allowances to academics and scholars, publishing research results, holding workshops, seminars and symposia. The Institute also runs a library, a media database, and publishes a newsletter. Over the past few years, the research orientation of IFRA has revolved around problems of democratic transition, urban violence, restructuring of educational systems in Africa, transborder studies, religious networks, urban management and the politics of violence. However, a large sample of disciplines has also been represented, ranging from history to musicology, economics, linguistics, archaeology, etc. In 2011, a 5-year strategic plan was adopted with two main research projects focusing on issues of identities in West Africa and on the Dynamics of Islam in Nigeria, in a transborder perspective. IFRA-Nigeria is jointly funded by the French Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs as well as the French Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). IFRA-Nigeria also actively searches for additional funding to sustain its research activities. In 2011, in partnership with the LASDEL (Niamey, Niger) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), IFRA-Nigeria was the recipient of two international grants with the High Council for Strategic Education and Research (CSFRS) and the British Academy. Together with IFRA-Nairobi, IFRA-Nigeria is part of the UMIFRE 24, and forms the USR 3336 of CNRS.
