Jatau David Polang, PhD
It was at the 70th Conference of the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN) held in Abuja in October 2025 that my colleagues and I agreed to converge in Jos from June 7th-10th 2026 for the 15th Toyin Falola Conference of Africa and African Diaspora. Professor Sati Fwatshak had given us copies of the TOFAC 2026 conference flyer to share to other HSN participants in Abuja to take to their various Institutions. The overarching theme for the 15th TOFAC as stated on the flyer was Identities in Nigeria with various sub-themes inviting scholars to send abstracts. As mid-career scholars, it was not the announcement of free conference T-shirts, free conference bags, subsidized meals and free transportation within the city of Jos during the Conference that captivated us. It was the prospect of mentorship and intellectual connections that the name, Professor Toyin Falola upon which the TOFAC platform is anchored, offers.
Last week, the 15th Toyin Falola annual Conference on Africa and the African Diaspora concluded in Jos, most mentioned central Nigeria’s city. Hundreds of scholars converged in an intellectual feast on the theme Identities in Nigeria. The organization and execution of the conference was top-notch. All through its planning from the call for abstracts, communication of acceptances, preparations and arrangements up to the last day of the conference, it was meticulously planned with the local organizing chairman, Professor Sati U. Fwatshak always in touch with all prospective and eventual participants. It turned out to be a huge success. Much thanks to the meticulous mentor, Professor Toyin Falola himself who weeks before the conference had posted updates and thought-provoking analyses and addresses about the papers to be presented at the conference.
By 2pm on the day of the arrival, my colleagues and I had arrived at the Eden Hotel, one of the Hotels reserved for conference participants. At the Hotel, it was an academic reunion and a rare opportunity of meeting senior professors such as Professor John Ebute Agaba who is the current DVC of Fr. Moses Oshio Adasu University, (formally Benue State University) Makurdi. Of course, the LOC Chairman, Professor Sati Fwatshak was on hand moving from one section of the hotel to another to welcome arriving participants.
The opening ceremony was electrifying. Apart from the keynote address titled Identities, Politics and Governance in Nigeria: Challenges and the way forward presented by the former Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the erudite Professor Atahiru M. Jega; the high table was spectacular. It was filled with eminent historians who are former Vice Chancellors. Professor Jega is himself a former vice Chancellor of the Bayero University Kano (BUK). There was Professor Monday Y. Mangvwat a Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos. He was of the History department of the University whose pioneering work on the History of Labour in Nigeria, provoked and influenced my decision to write a Ph.D thesis on an aspect of Labour history which I defended in 2023. There was also Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja and now on sabbatical at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru near Jos. As a Direct Entry applicant Professor Akinwumi dramatically admitted me into the department of History. He taught me History during my undergraduate days at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi. He was then the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. Professor Akinwumi represented the Chairman of the occasion, the Director General of NIPSS Professor Ayo Omotayo because, as he told us, he is a great mentee of Professor Toyin Falola. There was also the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Karl Kuum Univeristy, Professor Nanven Gambo who Professor Toyin Falola described as a great administrator, serious scholar and problem solver. Another former Vice Chancellor who participated was Professor Tor Joe Iorapuu, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Benue State University Makurdi. Another great scholar and great Historian, Professor Okpeh Okpeh Jr, who is the immediate past president of the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN) also attended and actively participated in the Conference. Only the TOFAC platform can assemble such an impressive constellation of academic giants and university administrators.
More spectacularly, the host Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya was not only physically present] to receive all the former vice chancellors mentioned above and to welcome participants to the conference, he was there with his Registrar, Dr. Rejoice Songden and the University Librarian, Professor Victoria Ladi Lawal to announce and to confer the title Elizabeth Isichie Honorary Professor of African History on Professor Toyin Falola. The conferment and presentation of the letter of appointment to Professor Toyin Falola was the high point of the opening ceremony.
The real intellectual feast however began when the conference broke into panels and we each got a plateful of the sumptuous intellectual meal. Three panels ran concurrently across four different sessions with each session chaired by a distinguished senior academic. Participants at each panel session critically discussed not less than eight papers presented by the presenting participant.
My papers at the conference, one co-authored with a senior colleague, Dr. Changwak Emmanuel Jonah and another with a younger colleague, Mr. Gumar Manji Kefas entitled “Brewing Belonging: The role of Beer in Ritual and Identity formation among the Goemai People of Central Nigeria” and “Material Culture and Identity: Historical Shifts in the Social Meanings of Attire in the Middle belt” were well received. It is intellectually satisfying for a scholar to see his contribution to knowledge generating thoughtful reactions and interests from conference participants who added their perspectives in the intellectual discourse in form of commendation, critique and call for collaborations. Over one hundred and thirty (130) other papers were presented at the conference. It was seamless and all engaging.
Months earlier, the LOC, chaired by Professor Sati Fwatshak had created an online email and WhatsApp group platforms for the Conference where prompt and vital information on all aspects of the conference like Hotel accommodation which was made free for all participants who earlier booked and lodged, to the exciting arrangements of thematic panels and virtual presentations, to the well prepared tea break and lunch arrangements which were all free of charge, up to the colorful gala night barbecue of goats, chickens and fish as well as all kinds of drinks which included assorted wines. The gala night and barbecue which held at the Exquisite Spot behind the Gbong Gwom Jos Palace was attended by our father Toyin Falola, some former Vice Chancellors and many senior professors who interacted freely, cracked jokes and share drinks with younger scholars.
A few days after the conference, calls came from fellow 15th TOFAC 2026 participants and colleagues for pleasantries and enquiries for research collaborations. It further revealed the beauty of the big intellectual gathering that TOFAC represents. I remain eternally grateful to Professor Toyin Falola, the Distinguished Africanist and the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities of the University of Texas at Austin, for the gift of his 2026 book titled: AFRICAN IDENTITIES Absence, Loss and the Quest for Self-Definition and for the opportunity and platform that TOFAC offers. I now eagerly look forward to the 16th edition of TOFAC.