DeLC PhD student Hajara Mohammed and Professor Charlotte Baker have been appointed to the committee of the recently launched Lancaster University Africa Research Hub, which is dedicated to advancing academic research, fostering community engagement, and promoting sustainable development across the African continent.

The new Africa Research Hub is led by Dr Yakubu Salifu, Lecturer in Palliative Care, and Dr Zanele Nyoni-Wood, Lecturer in Clinical Legal Education. This cross-disciplinary research network aims to foster an environment for enabling collaborative work between colleagues at Lancaster and African scholars and institutions, and will provide a platform for ongoing knowledge sharing and exchange activities, underpinned by strategic partnerships.

Charlotte Baker, whose research focuses on disability and stigma in sub-Saharan Africa, is the hub’s Associate Director for Engagement, and is charged with spearheading efforts to connect the centre with a diverse range of stakeholders. Hajara Mohammed, who is writing her doctoral thesis on the almajiri in Northern Nigeria, has been appointed as the Postgraduate Representative. Hajara’s role is to represent the student body, ensuring that hub remains attuned to the needs and perspectives of the next generation of scholars.

An inauguration event for the hub will take place on Thursday 9 May 2024, which will bring together existing and prospective members in-person for the first time to showcase the Africa-related research and engagement activities currently being undertaken by colleagues across the university.