ADESUYI ADENIRAN KOLAWOLE

History and International Relations

At the History And International Relations department office

Appointment on Visitation important

Topic: Socail/Transport History

Description: This study is a history of the National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW with a focus on its socio-political and economic contributions in Lagos State between 1978 and 2022. Indeed, there is a negative perception about the activities of the NURTW in the State, such as touting, extortion and partisan politics during elections in the State. Besides, extant literature has focused mainly on the impact of transportation systems in the development of Lagos State, without interrogating the activities of the transport workers and operators. This study adopted a multidisciplinary approach that involved the use of both primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected through oral interviews with informants considered knowledgeable on the subject-matter. Oral evidence was supplemented with archival materials collected from the National Archives, Ibadan. The interviews were conducted at major motor parks located across three senatorial districts in Lagos State, namely Lagos Central, Lagos East and Lagos West. Two hundred and forty 240 informants were purposely selected through random sampling. The information collected was subjected to qualitative interpretation. Findings revealed that the agitations of the minibus drivers against ill-treatment by the owners of these buses resulted in the unionisation of drivers and this led to the formation of NURTW in 1978. The study showed that the union performed the task of revenue collection which was originally the responsibility of the local government authorities in various motor parks and garages in Lagos State. The research also found out that the NURTW played a significant role in the introduction of the Bus Rapid Transit BRT scheme by the Lagos State government in 2007. About 80 % of the respondents attested to the positive role played by the union. This study revealed that the NURTW was saddled with the movement of electoral materials to various destinations during elections in Lagos State. Furthermore, the study discovered that, over the years, the numerical strength of the NURTW benefited the State government during election periods.The study concluded that NURTW contributed to revenue collection in Lagos State and, contrary to the negative perception about the union, it played important positive roles in the political and socio-economic development of the state. Based on its contributions to knowledge, It is recommended that the NURTW should focus mainly on union matters in line with global best practices rather than meddling in politics in the State.

#	Certificate	School	Year
1.	Ph.D (History and Diplomatic Studies History)	Olabisi Onabanjo Univrsity, Ago-Iwoye Ogun State	2024

ECOWAS AT 50: EVALUATING NIGERIA S ROLE IN TRANSNATIONAL ROAD PROJECTS AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION

Nigeria s role in transnational road transport infrastructural projects has served as a catalyst for regional integration over the last five decades as a regional hegemon. When the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS was founded on 28 May 1975, it was expected that Nigeria would play pivotal leadership roles in the organization. Since its founding, Nigeria has played a leadership role despite accusations of domination and the assertion of its political and economic influence in the sub-region. This study adopts the historical method, utilizing primary and secondary sources of data, with qualitative interpretation and analysis. The primary data comprises oral interviews from participants selected at the ECOWAS Secretariat and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs NIIA . Secondary sources include books, journals, ECOWAS publications, and reports to provide context and empirical analysis. This work examines ECOWAS transnational road transport development projects, hegemonic politics, and efforts made by successive Nigerian governments to further integrate the region, considering the ideological differences among member states. Findings reveal that its existence has been fraught with challenges, including unhealthy rivalry, fears of domination, and colonial legacies. Nigeria s foreign policy on effective road transport has influenced economic development in member states and shaped the sub-region s security complexity. The study concludes that Nigeria has made a meaningful impact on transnational road projects, enhancing regional connectivity, economic growth, social development, and job creation. This study submits that the socio-economic development of the West African sub-region cannot be achieved without transport connectivity and infrastructural improvement.

ADESUYI KOLAWOLE is a Assistant Lecturer at the Department of History and International Relations

ADESUYI has a Ph.D in History and Diplomatic Studies History from Olabisi Onabanjo Univrsity, Ago-Iwoye Ogun State