This book was commissioned as part of a research project, located in the Centre for Social Science Research and Development, an independent research organisation based in Ikorodu, Nigeria, with the intention of building knowledge about positive leadership in Nigeria. Supported by the Ford Foundation, it is part of a global initiative to encourage a diversified understanding of leadership beyond State and public actors, giving prominence to new ideas, and recognising leaders in various communities whose work have contributed to positive social change.

A collection of essays, commissioned to honour one of Nigeria's and Africa's most outstanding political scientists of his generation, brings together twenty six contri-butions from scholars of all generations, who all have connections with the University of Ibadan. These include: Wale Adebanwi, Adigun Agbaje, LaRay Denzer, L. Adele Jinadu, Richard Sklar, Rotimi Suberu and Adebayo Williams. The essays are organised into four sections; the structure, history, processes and dynamics of Nigeria's federal system, governance issues, the formulations and transformations of identity politics and...