Prof. Dr. Sati Umaru Fwatshak
Visited the IAS from April to May 2024
My name is Prof. Dr. Sati Umaru Fwatshak, a tenure-track Professor of African History at the University of Jos, Nigeria. As a Historian, my research and teaching career has been focusing on explaining contemporary economic and social conditions in Africa using time-series data that highlight resilience and transitions: continuity and change. My research interest therefore spans the broad spectrum of the conventional divisions of African/Nigerian history: pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial, with the latter two constituting the bulk of my publication cohort. In thematic outlay, my research interest includes African/Nigerian economies, conflicts and security, Governance/Leadership, migration and identity, Islam in Africa, and Higher education. My latest book (co-edited) entitled, Economic Development of Nigeria Since 1800, is published by Eliva Press, Port Louis, Chisinau, 2024. I have an ongoing Project on the Impact of Private Universities on Public Universities in Nigeria.
The purpose of my visit to Bayreuth University as IAS Guest was to organize, evaluate, and analyze the data I had collected in my home country and to produce a report on “The impact of private universities on public universities in Nigeria.” It is part of a larger study in five African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa) led by Professor Toyin Falola of the University of Texas at Austin. The objectives of the research are to:
- Study the relationship between private higher education and public universities about governance models,
- Study the impact of private universities on public ones,
- Study the funding modalities of private universities,
- Study the typologies of private higher education,
- Understand stakeholders’ perceptions about private higher education,
- Determine possible synergies that can be built between the two sectors to enhance the quality of higher education.
Between 2021 and 2023, I had collected data on the Nigerian field from three private universities willing to participate in the research (Al-Qalam University, Katsina, Kwararafa University, Wukari, and PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt), and from other stakeholders including students, lecturers, alumni, parents/guardians, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). I had also collected data from the National Universities Commission (the body regulating and monitoring the Nigerian University System) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), which controls entrance examinations and admissions into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. From these and other secondary resources, I am to produce a report.
My Report is due in July 2024 and I needed to organize, evaluate, and analyze my data and produce the report. I felt that for me to achieve this, I needed a serene, academic, and well-resourced environment. My prior contacts with and knowledge of the University of Bayreuth since the year 2004 or so, led me to the conclusion that the University would be the best place to be. I applied to the Institute of African Studies (IAS) for a Guest Scholar invitation to benefit from Bayreuth University’s excellent academic environment and the IAS generously offered me the invitation to come for the period of two months, April and May 2024. I arrived at Bayreuth in the morning of April 3rd, 2024 and stayed there until the evening of May 31st, 2024, when I departed for Frankfurt and eventually for Nigeria on June 1st, 2024, based on Lufthansa flight schedules.
On arrival in Bayreuth, I was quickly settled in and started working. My work centered on the organization, evaluation, and analysis of the data I brought from Nigeria and report writing. These activities took place daily both or either at the office space provided for me or at my residence (the Alexander von Humbolt Guest House). The summary of my achievements with the project is as follows. For the three private universities participating in the research on which I had raw data, I wrote a draft paper on each, using their individual data as well as those from relevant stakeholders and from the NUC and JAMB. The three individual draft reports vary in size of page numbers but each is in single line spacing. While that of Al-Qalam University is sixteen (16) pages, those of Kwararafa and PAMO Universities are fifteen (15) pages each.
Next, I made various versions of the main report based on the objectives of the study, synthesizing the various categories of data I had gathered and also resources from the Bayreuth University library, as well as the Internet which I used to cross-check certain facts. The last version is 75+ pages (excluding appendices). Without the IAS visit, it would have been impossible to achieve all these. Thus, I would say, overall, this was my most academically fruitful experience in the year 2024.
Why the IAS visit was the magic wand for me was because of the funding, the working/academic environment, my accommodation, friends, and the social life in Bayreuth.
A few remarks on these factors/forces is imperative. The generous funding in return for air ticket and daily subsistence (per diem) covered my travel and boarding expenses. Thus, I was able to stay in a comfortable accommodation (the Alexander von Humbolt Guest House), use the the cafeteria by loading cash on my campus card, access the shops around me and those in the city center, and to participate in social events picking my bills.
The work/academic environment surpassed my expectations and triggered Aha moments. I was given an office space furnished with a table, a chair, a desktop computer and two monitors, a shared printer and a coffee room. The package also included inclusion in the university’s email system, and access to the soft and hard copies of the library collections, free internet services (within the university and at the Alexander von Humbolt Guest House where I resided). The Library’s collections on African studies is simply wonderful for researchers on Africa. These facilities offered me two work station possibilities: the office and the house, both of which I used maximally.
My accommodation (the Alexander von Humbolt Guest House) had all that I needed in bedding, seating, bathroom and wardrobe facilities, and kitchen utensils, as well a dinning and a reading table. In addition, it has functional wifi. These offerings gave me opportunity to work from home and to meet new friends, fellow Guests of the University from various parts of the world. With all these facilities and its location within walking distance to the campus and the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence and very close to a community shop; the Guest House was the best place to stay.
Besides the excellent work and residential environments were wonderful human agents (old and new friends) who assisted me greatly and made my stay productive and memorable. The following among several others deserve mention. Dr. Franz Kogelmann, the Managing Director of the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, was quite amazing: generous with his time, resources, and explanations. He received and forwarded my IAS Guest application for approval, supplied Visa documents, received me at Nuremberg airport on arrival, and took me back to the airport on departure. He settled me in at Bayreuth, showed me my office space, connected me to the internet, made me a campus card to be able to eat at the cafeteria, arranged my accommodation (at the Alexander Von Humbolt Guest House), helped me with online purchases, showed me places in Bayreuth, and welcomed me in his house for dinners. He has been a friend and research colleague since the beginning of the new millennium. We had worked together on the Volkswagen-sponsored Shariah Debates Project in Africa on which I started as a Junior researcher and eventually became the Nigeria country coordinator after the departure of Phil Ostein who held that position on the project. The project gave me the opportunity to visit Bayreuth a couple of times. Dr. Kogelmann was also on a team of scholars from Bayreuth to conduct a methodology workshop for emerging scholars at the University of Jos in the early new millennium. He was also among the guests that attended the BIGSAS alumni conference at the University of Jos in 2022.
The Dean of the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, Professor Dr. Rudiger Seeseman, warmly received me upon my introduction to him by Dr. Kogelmann. In addition, he shared with me various information about the Cluster, the University, and offered me lunch. With these offerings from him, I felt very more comfortable and at home.
The IT Department was quite supportive. They set me up with the university library for online access and created relevant folders on the desktop for me to store and retrieve the documents that I was working on.
My colleagues in the office, Daian, Bachir, and others offered a warm reception. They showed me the coffee room and on occasions, made coffee for me.
Robert Debusmann, academic coordinator at the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, offered me friendship. I had dinner and lunch with him and also had some academic and other conversations. We first met during the Toyin Falola visit to Bayreuth for the Sabelo book launch, which I attended at the invitation of Dr. Kogelmann and Professor Dr. Seeseman. I was quite informed by the discussions on the book and its offerings on decolonization. Dr. Debusmann also invited me to a seminar presentation by Dr. Grace Musila. The presentation was quite stimulating; provided new perspectives on gender discourses using the activities of a former Kenyan first lady as an example. The two academic events were rejuvenating and showed the quality of academic culture and globalization of knowledge production and circulation valued by the University of Bayreuth.
Unfortunately, I was unable to present a seminar on my work. Before the main draft report took very good shape, with something concrete, it was almost time to leave. I miss the feedback I would have received. Perhaps I should have applied for three months stay, that way, I would definitely have presented my draft for feedback.
Outside academics, Mirjam Straßer provided valuable assistance in helping me know Bayreuth town and more places on campus. She connected me to the International Club, which showed visitors various historical and important places in Bayreuth town including gardens and parks (of which Bayreuth is in ample supply) and the beautiful city center. She also connected me with the Iwalewa House and its events and with other social centers and events, among others. During these occasions, I met new friends from across the globe. I first met Mirjam in 2022 at my University (Jos), Nigeria, when the BIGSAS alumni met there for their conference. I was then Dean of my Faculty and participated at the conference as host. It was nice reconnecting with her. She is a wonderful lady, always jovial, receptive, willing and able to help.
Michelle Heess, the BIGSAS coordinator, was on hand always along with Mirjam on activities of exposing me and other visitors to the town. I first met her in Jos during the BIGSAS alumni conference of 2022. It was nice reconnecting with her.
I also reconnected with Bakheit Mohammed Nur, who was among the scholars who came to Jos for the BIGSAS Alumni Conference in 2022.
All these people and the Bayreuth environment made my stay quite exciting and memorable. I value them all for their time and warm reception.
The people in Bayreuth city are also wonderful people. I had language challenges but there were always people willing to talk to me in English, as best as they could. As I became addicted to the walking culture of the town and because of the need to shop, sometimes I would miss my way or would need something explained to me. By just asking, people cheerfully volunteered and helped. That was, Wao!!; what a beautiful city and a receptive people.