Research and Grant Proposal Writing in the Humanities

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Research and Grant Proposal Writing in the
Humanities

• Dr. Rasheed Olaniyi, University of Ibadan

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Understand the funding agency

• Understand the funding agency and its research
  agenda
• Leventis Foundation Nigeria was set up in 1988 to
  continue an existing philanthropic programme.
• Leventis Scholarship programme was extended since
  1992 to postgraduate level.

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Understand the funding agency

• Leventis Foundation Fellowship is tenable at
  SOAS, Centre of African Studies, University of
  London, UK.
• The Fellowship is designed for Nigerian academics
  to take part in a scheme of collaborative
  research
• You can share your research agenda with Prof.
  Murray Last, Karin Barber Insa Nolte and other
  scholars in the UK who are sufficiently familiar
  with research in Nigeria

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Understand the funding agency

• The Fellowship enables young scholars working up
  a PhD thesis into publishable form.
• The 2016 Fellowships are awarded in libraries and
  archives
• Duration of Fellowships 3 months

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Previous Fellows

• Leventis Research Co-operation Programme Fellows
• Dr OgenDepartment of History, Obafemi Awolowo
  University, Ile-Ife (Autumn 2008) Ethnic
  identity and traditional economy of the Ikale
  people of south-eastern Yorubaland
• Dr David EnweremaduDepartment of Political
  Science, University of Ibadan (Autumn 2008)
  Anti-corruption and politics in Nigeria in the
  fourth Republic 1999-2007.
• Dr Ibrahim MalumfashiDepartment of African
  languages, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
  (Autumn 2007) The politics of abuse and the
  poetics of violence in Northern Nigeria,
  1046-1966.
• Dr Moses MammanDepartment of Geography, Ahmadu
  Bello University, Zaria (Autumn 2007) Mobility
  and HIV/AIDS Issues of reproductive health among
  long-distance drivers in North-Western Nigeria.

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Previous Fellows

• Dr Bolaji BateyeDepartment of Religious Studies,
  Obfemi Awolowo University (Autumn 2006) Female
  Leaders of New Gneration Churches as Change
  Agents in Yorubaland.
• Dr Freeborn OdibohDepartment of Fine and Applied
  Arts, University of Benin, Ekewan Campus, Benin
  City (Autumn 2006) Creative Reformation of
  Existing Traditions in African Art the
  Iconography of the Abayomi Barber School.
• Dr Charles UkejeDepartment of International
  Relations, Faculty of Administration, Obafemi
  Awolowo University Ile-Ife (Autumn 2005) Oil
  capital, Ethnic nationalism and civil conflicts
  in the Niger Delta of Nigeria
• Dr Mohammed Lawal AminDepartment of Nigerian and
  African Languages, Ahmadu Bello University
  (Autumn 2005) Reformism as a theme in the 21st
  century Hausa religio-political prose.

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Previous Fellows

• Dr Asonzeh UkahDepartment of Sociology,
  University of Ibadan, Ibadan (Autumn 2004) The
  Redeemed Christian Church of God.
• Dr Egodi UchenduDepartment of History,
  University of Nigeria (Autumn 2004) Anioma Women
  and the Nigerian Civil War, 1966-1979.
• Dr Oyeronke OlajubuDepartment of Religions,
  University of Ilorin (2003)
• Dr Jackson Kizza Mukasa (2003)
• Dr George TasieDept of Religious studies,
  University of Port Harcourt (2002)
• Dr O OkomeTheatre arts Department, University of
  Calabar (2002)

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Previous Fellows

• Dr Mukhtar Umar BunzaDepartment of History,
  Usmanu Danfodiyo University (Autumn 2001) Shariah
  and Christian-Muslim Relations in Northern
  Nigeria A History of Persistent Encounter.
• Mr Umar BurataiDepartment of English and Drama,
  Ahmadu Bello University (Autumn 2001) Public
  Spectating and Political Undertones in Durbal
  Display.
• Dr C U UcheDepartment of Banking and Finance,
  University of Nigeria (Autumn 2000) The Role of
  the Bank of England in the Monetary and Financial
  System Development of British West Africa.

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Previous Fellows

• Dr Caleb FolorunsoDepartment of Archaeology and
  Anthropology, University of Ibadan (Autumn 2000)
  Ethnoarchaeology in Africa, and Cultural Resource
  Management in Africa.
• Dr Victor A IsumonahDepartment of Political
  Science, University of Ibadan (Autumn 2000) Oil,
  Federal Presence, Cultural Diversity and
  Organising For Change in the Oil-Region of
  Nigeria.

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Previous Fellows

• Mr Dalha WaziriDepartment of History, Bayero
  University (Autumn 1999) The history of the
  Gumel Emirate.
• Mr Magaji TsohoDepartment of Nigerian and
  African Languages, Ahmadu Bello University
  (Autumn 1999) The Transformation of Hausa Court
  Song from 1850 to date.
• Dr Hannatu A AlahiraHistory Department, Ahmadu
  Bello University (Autumn 1999) The Role of Women
  in the Colonial Economy of the Jos Plateau from
  1900 to 1960.
• Dr Ayodeji OlukojuUniversity of Lagos (Autumn
  1998) (Maritime Trade in Lagos, 1914-50).

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Previous Fellows

• Dr Emmanuel Olukemi RotimiObafemi Awolowo
  University (Autumn 1998) A History of Native
  Administration Police Forces in Nigeria,
  1900-1970).
• Mr Muhammadu Mustapha GwadabeAhmadu Bello
  University (Autumn 1997) The Colonial History of
  Kano mirate.
• Dr Aliyu BunzaUsmanu Danfodiyo University
  (Autumn 1997) Supernatural Forces in Hausa
  Traditional Medicine
• Dr Erharbor IdemudiaUniversity of Ibadan (Autumn
  1996) Psychosocial Factors Determining
  Psychological Disorders Among Prison Inmates in
  Nigeria.

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Previous Fellows

• Dr Joseph EboreimeNational Museum, Benin City
  (Autumn 1996) Group Identities and Changing
  Patterns of Alliances in the Niger-Delta,
  1890-1991.
• Dr Chikelue OfuebeUniversity of Nigeria (Spring
  1996) State-Peasant Relations and Land
  Acquisition.
• Dr Bello Daudun BadaUsmanu Danfodiyo University
  (Spring 1996) Hausa Proverbs.
• Dr Lawrence Olufemi AdewoleObafemi Awolowo
  University (Spring 1996) Yoruba Linguistics and
  Dialectology.
• Dr Dele JegedeUniversity of Ibadan (Autumn
  1995) Medical Sociology and Anthropology.

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Previous Fellows

• Mr John-Tokpabere AgberiaUniversity of Port
  Harcourt (Autumn 1995) Nigerian ceramics.
• Mr Salisu AbdullahiBayero University Kano
  (Summer 1993) Social Change, Crime and Society.
• Dr Mamman Sani AbdulkadiriBayero University Kano
  (Summer 1993) British Commercial Firms Dealing
  with Northern Nigeria, c. 1860-1939.

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Research Proposal

• Research proposal explains your project to the
  world and grant institutions
• It is the only tool to persuade funders and
  research institutions to support your research
  project.
• Bearing in mind the competitive nature of grants,
  proposals should be persuasive and creative
• A proposal is a sales document

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Research Proposal

• Research proposal should have an
  attractive/captivating/engaging title
• It should be a short phrase on the subject of the
  proposal

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Research Proposal

• A proposal should answer five questions
• (1)What question or questions do you address?
• Grant winning proposals stems from a long process
  that begins with an idea.
• Provide background information/statement of the
  problem-concise and direct to the subject matter.
  

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Research Proposal

• (2) Why does this question arise? (from what
  scholarly debates or real-world events?)
• Why does it matter? Briefly describe the origins
  and significance of your project
• State the social and academic importance of your
  work.
• Address and clarify the purpose of your research
• Why does it worth it?
• Discuss your statement of the problem

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Research Proposal

• (3) What previous literature has been written on
  the question? Describe the state of the art on
  the subject. Distinguish the main and minor
  perspectives (provide footnotes to relevant
  literature). Explain the controversies.
• Note that literature review is meant to
  facilitate a critical analysis of the data
  derived from the study.
• Literature review offers an integrated overview
  of the field/focus of study

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Literature Review

• Literature review clarifies the research problem
• From the extant literature, synthesis the
  findings and integrate them into the proposal
• Discuss your objectives. Identify research goals
  to be accomplished.
• Objectives should be specific and measurable
• (4) What working hypotheses, theories and
  conceptualisations will you explore

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Methodology

• (5) Discuss your methodology. State reasons for
  your choice. State how you will use your
  methodology
• Develop a captivating methodology
• If youre doing case studies, identify your cases
  and explain their selection
• If youre doing interviews, explain your target
  group and plans.
• Research in the humanities may not need
  research design, hypotheses, research questions
  or results

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Methodology

• However, reviewers and funding agencies may
  expect you to frame your proposal as such.

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Research Plan

• Research Plan Explain when? Timelines and
  milestones.
• Your timeline should list project-related
  activities, persons responsible for their
  execution, and the time-frame for their
  implementation.
• The timeline serves as a blueprint for project
  execution.

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What to Note

• Learn the language of grant writing
• Pay close attention to application instructions.
• Follow specific guidelines of the funders
• Your proposal should be readable, well-organised,
  grammatically correct, understandable and
  properly conceptualised.
• Ensure that your budget is justified by your
  objectives, set goals and research plan

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What to Note

• Be courageous, confident and develop a thick skin
  when applying for grants.
• You may contact grant administrators for
  clarifications, suggestions and preview of
  proposals.
• Note that grants are not for material wealth but
  for knowledge production.
• Avoid outrageous budgets.
• Yet, dont under-estimate.

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What to Note

• Budget Estimates This is very critical. It
  refers to the financial aspect of the proposal.
  At least six budget items could be identified
• (1) Personnel-salaries, per diem, honoraria
• (2) Equipment
• (3) Supplies
• (4) Travels
• (5) Communication

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What to Note

• Administrative Charges

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• Thank you for listening