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Roger Meece and Nnamdi Azikiwe Awards

Nnamdi Azikiwe Award for African Students

The award honors former Nigerian President Nnamdi Azikiwe, a scholar and politician, who led Nigeria as its first civilian president and who invited MSU faculty to join him and other Nigerians to build a land-grant model university in Eastern Nigeria. This became the University of Nigeria at Nsukka, had a distinguished educational history, and was the beginnings of the MSU African Studies faculty, now approximately 100 scholars spanning many colleges and departments. The award provides support for African students who otherwise have minimal sources for support as most funds are available for citizens and permanent residents of the USA.

Congratulations to Grace L. Tukurah, graduate student in the College of Education, and Chiadikaobi G. Okafor, graduate student in the Department of History, for winning the Nnamdi Azikiwe Fellowship.

Previous winners

2022 - Yetunde Alabede and Edith Gondwe

2021 - Ronald Asiimwe

2020 - Ebenezer Ansah


The Roger Meece Awards

The Roger Meece Paper Prize is awarded to graduate and undergraduate students who submit papers or projects focusing on issues related to the study of African nations and peoples - including governance, health, society, gender, science, development, education, environment, communication, and language.

Congratulations also to Chiadikaobi G. Okafor, graduate student in the Department of History, for winning first place Meece Paper Prize for his paper: “Rethinking Nigeria’s Colonial Military Historiography.” 

Previous winners

2021 - Rabin Kc and Mariama Sow

2020 - Caitlin Baker, Lucinda Krieger, Jocelyn Polanek, and Triniti Watson.