International Institute for African Scholars

Presenting African scholars at the forefront of global thought leadership.

A scholarly platform for forward-looking university lecturers, researchers, and professionals across Africa and the Diaspora — empowering talent, advancing knowledge, and reshaping the continent's future.

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Our Mission

Africanization, made practical.

IIAS helps scholars, technicians, professionals, and all skilled people of African origin deploy their talents on the African continent — and benefit from doing so. We are a federal tax-exempt nonprofit established in 2013 to serve doctoral and social science researchers, and have since grown into a global community spanning every African nation and the worldwide diaspora.

Our work is rooted in a simple conviction: the pen is the institute's sword. Through scholarship, collaboration, and policy, we build the bridge between African talent and African opportunity — between what the continent has and what it could become.

We collaborate with universities, NGOs, governments, and private partners — including Global Peace Missions, Carochen International, African Rights Corporation, and the Journal of Functional Education — to create platforms where African scholarship leads, rather than follows.

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Programs

Six pillars of African excellence.

All programs
01 · Strategic Initiative

The Africanization Program

The flagship Africanization Program creates a win-win playing field for African scholars to deploy their talents on the continent — through three structured roundtables.

Learn more 02 · Continental Network

ONE AFRICA Roundtable

A continental forum where Country Representatives from across all 55 African nations share insight and shape pan-African policy.

Learn more 03 · Public Health

Health Organization Roundtable

Convening medical scholars and practitioners of African origin around the work of strengthening continental health systems.

Learn more 04 · Mentorship

Orientation Council

The Institute's mentorship layer — guiding new fellows, students, and diaspora returnees through structured pathways to meaningful contribution.

Learn more 05 · Research

Doctoral Research Support

Methodological mentorship and small grants ($500 — $2,500) for African doctoral candidates whose work intersects the Institute's thematic areas.

Learn more 06 · Fellowship

Global Fellowship Programme

A fully-funded twelve-month residency for African-origin scholars — $45,000 stipend, $8,000 research budget, mentorship, and lifetime federation membership.

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"If IIAS had a fellow representing every African country, then one representative could have access to the entire continent through collaboration. The pen is mightier than the sword."

— ONE AFRICA Initiative

A Continental Federation

Fifty-five nations, one institute, and a diaspora the Institute is bringing home.

IIAS counts 55 countries as constituency — the recognized nation-states of the African continent plus additional historical and cultural African political entities. The Institute mobilizes scholars across the federation, with active programs in fifteen countries and on-the-ground operations from the Africa Headquarters in Aba, Nigeria.

  • West Africa Nigeria · Ghana · Cote d'Ivoire · Guinea · Togo
  • Central Africa Cameroon · Republic of Congo
  • East & Horn of Africa Kenya · Ethiopia · Tanzania · Rwanda · Uganda
  • Southern Africa South Africa · Zambia · Zimbabwe
  • Island Nations Cape Verde · Sao Tome · Comoros · Mauritius · Seychelles · Madagascar
IIAS member nations across Africa Map showing the 55 nations of the African continent that constitute the IIAS federation, with capitals of countries hosting active programs marked. N Boundaries simplified from public-domain sources
IIAS member nation Active program country Capital · Active program
The Africanization Program

Scholarship that reshapes a continent.

Africa stands at a moment of unprecedented opportunity. As global investment accelerates, IIAS is mobilizing African scholars and the diaspora to coordinate this critical investment heat-up — strengthening societal institutions for sustainable economic development.

Whether you teach at a university, lead in industry, or pursue research, you have a role to play in shaping Africa's tomorrow.

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SANKOFA RETURN AND FETCH IT
Latest

Insights & scholarship.

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News

JIIAS — Journal Now Open for Submissions (ISSN 2996-4709)

April 6, 2026 · 1 min read
News

JIIAS — Journal of the Institute Now Open for Submissions

April 6, 2026 · 1 min read
News

Banking the Institute — Wells Fargo, PayPal, and Zelle

March 30, 2026 · 1 min read
Leadership

Distinguished scholars steering our mission.

Meet the institute

Dr. Victor Oluwi

Pioneer Fellow · Project Monitoring Officer Nigeria

Dr. Josephine Oparaocha

Senior Fellow · Health Organization Roundtable Nigeria

Dr. Fabian Aniemene

Deputy Director · Coordinator, IIAS Exchange Consortium Nigeria

Prof. Emeritus Obed Anizoba

Founding Registrar (in memoriam) Nigeria
Join the Institute

Africanization cannot be more practical.

If you are a scholar of African descent — whether on the continent or in the diaspora — you have a critical role to play. Become a Fellow, Member, Associate, or Affiliate today.

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Fellow Doctoral scholars and senior academics shaping continental policy.
Member Established professionals and educators contributing to programs.
Associate Emerging scholars and graduate researchers building expertise.
Affiliate Allies, supporters, and partner institutions across the diaspora.