African International Conference 2025

Carl LeVan, PhD, is Professor and Chair in the Department of Politics, Governance and Economics at American University in Washington, DC. 

His research focuses on political institutions, democratization, and governance. His latest book, Contemporary Nigerian Politics: Competition in a Time of Transition and Terror (Cambridge 2019), explores parties and elections in Africa’s largest democracy.

He is the co-editor of three books, including The Oxford Handbook of Nigerian Politics (with Patrick Ukata, 2018). He has authored or co-authored articles on the Boko Haram insurgency, power-sharing in east Africa, the economics of coalition governments, participatory constitution-making, and American liberalism. Recent collaborative publications explore mistrust both comparatively and sub-nationally in the United States. His current research project studies the impact of authoritarian foreign influence on democratic attitudes.

He is a Research Associate with the Centre for the Study of the United States at the University of Pretoria and serves on the editorial boards of Governance, Journal of Modern African Studies, and Frontiers in Political Science. He has taught at George Washington University, University of Ibadan (Nigeria), and Ritsumeikan University (Japan). Prior to obtaining his PhD in political science from the University of California – San Diego, LeVan worked in the U.S. Congress and then as an adviser to Nigeria's National Assembly. 

Prof. Engobo Emeseh is a distinguished Professor of Law and a seasoned academic with extensive experience in higher education. In 2020, she was recognised as one of the few female Black professors in the UK, a testament to her pioneering spirit and impactful contributions.

Engobo possesses a remarkable breadth of experience in higher education, marked by her leadership in developing innovative, market-relevant degree schemes, portfolio reviews, and diverse delivery formats. Her work strategically caters to a wide audience, optimizing resources and enhancing the student learning experience through external engagement and skills development.

Her research is focused on environmental law and policy, encompassing regulation and enforcement, environmental justice, corporate social responsibility, and the intricate interface between environmental regulation and international economic law. She is a prolific scholar, having published widely and presented papers at numerous academic conferences and international fora, frequently within the context of the natural resources industry in Africa.

Her dedication to legal education and her impactful research on environmental law and policy make her a truly inspiring figure. Her work not only shapes future legal professionals but also contributes significantly to critical discussions on environmental sustainability and justice.

Fatima Waziri-Azi is a distinguished Nigerian lawyer and public servant, renowned for her unwavering dedication to safeguarding the human rights of marginalized populations, particularly women and girls. Her career is marked by a profound commitment to advocating for disadvantaged urban poor and rural communities across Nigeria, driven by a vision of people-centred access to justice.

Fatima currently serves as the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), bringing a wealth of experience to her role. Her professional journey is characterized by impactful contributions to critical areas of governance and human rights.

From January 2005 to August 2006, she served as an Attorney and Senior Program Officer at the Women's Rights, Electoral Issues, and Justice Sector Reform Desk, laying the groundwork for her enduring commitment to gender equality and justice.

Subsequently, from February 2016 to November 2018, her expertise was instrumental in her role as a Research and Program Officer at the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), where she contributed to strengthening anti-corruption frameworks.

Her expertise in the rule of law was further recognized in her appointment as the Rule of Law Advisor to the President in the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from November 2018.

Her career is a testament to her unwavering dedication to institutional reform and her profound belief in the transformative power of justice. Her leadership and advocacy continue to inspire and empower marginalized communities across Nigeria, making her a formidable force for positive change.

Matt Meyer is Secretary-General of the International Peace Research Association, and Senior Research Scholar of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst’s Resistance Studies Initiative.

Active also with the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and the War Resisters’ International, Meyer is a noted speaker, organizer, and author/editor of over a dozen books, specializing in contemporary Africa studies, peace history, political prisoners, and solidarity/abolition of white supremacy; his most recent work is Beyond Our Current Boundaries: Peace Studies from Africa and the Global South (Africa World Press, 2025).

South African Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu noted that Meyer has “looked beyond the short-term strategies and tactics which too often divide progressive peoples…and begun to develop a language which looks at the roots of our humanness.”

Mónica Bennett is currently the Senior International Client Development Manager at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).

Mónica holds over 14 years of international experience and is a skilled business development strategist focused on building partnerships between universities, technical institutes, governments, and industry leaders. She has a strong track record in fostering sustainable relationships, projects, and advancing business development initiatives in regions such as Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Mónica excels at creating capacity-building programs and aligning educational solutions with the evolving needs of global industries. Her leadership at SAIT in corporate training has generated new partnerships and revenue initiatives. Mónica’s expertise in workforce development and strategic partnerships has been instrumental in creating new educational programs and credentials, driving organizational growth and long-term impact across multiple sectors