KINGSTON, R.I. – April 1, 2010 – The University of Rhode Island will host two lectures as part of the activities connected with next week’s inauguration of President David M. Dooley.

The first lecture features international scholar Bola Akanji, a full research professor from the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research. Akanji will discuss “Gender Equity in Higher Education: Perspectives from the Global South,” on Wednesday, April 7. The lecture will be held at noon at the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences on the Kingston Campus.

Later that day, Keith Labelle and Jenn Longa Moio from URI’s Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services Program will be featured as part of the Dana Shugar Colloquium. Their presentation on “URI’s National Success Engaging Men in Violence Prevention” will be held at 4 p.m. in Swan Hall.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Akanji is actively involved in studying and assessing policy processes in Nigeria that relate to gender, macroeconomics, and sustainable development. Her expertise includes gender budgeting, gender mainstreaming strategies, engendering policy, benchmarking processes, and developing the national gender policy.

Akanji has been teaching a course at the University this semester on gender, economics, and Africa’s sustainable development. URI Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Donald DeHayes and the Women’s Studies, Department of Economics, and African and African American Studies program are hosting her presentation in honor of the inauguration of President Dooley.

Watch the Inaugural Events on URI Live!