28th October, 2016
Prof. Christopher Isike, a South Africa-based Nigerian don, has been elected as the first black Vice President of the South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS).
Isike, the Head of Department, Politics and International Studies, University of Zululand, Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa, is also the first black African to be elected into the International Political Science Association Executive Council in the last 20 years.
The professor said in Empengeni, Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa on Friday that the awards would serve as a stimulus to further rebrand the Nigerian image.
The don said that the awards were a welcome development at a time some countries often focus on the negative image of Nigeria.
“ The awards have shown that Nigerian academics are contributing positively in South Africa and a huge value for us in terms of rebranding the Nigerian image,” he said.
Isike, a Professor of African Politics and Development, said it was an honour that those who did the nominations did not know him and only rewarded him based on merit and hard work.
The don, who is also the Chairman of Nigeria Union, Empangeni Ward, urged Nigerian scholars not to give up as hard work pays.
“ My message to Nigerian scholars is that they should not give up. Hard work pays. The awards are just the beginning for me.
“ What it tells me is that if you persevere , just keep doing the little things you are doing in the right way, it will pay-off at the end of the day,” he said.
NAN reports that Isike’s teaching and research interests revolve around the quality of women’s political representation in Africa, women and peace-building on the continent as well as immigration to South Africa by Africans.
His interests also revolve around human security, human factor development in Africa as well as soft power politics and development dynamics on the continent.