Friends, trainees and families have come together to celebrate the 70th birthday of renowned historian Professor Toyin Falola on Sunday.

The event is virtual organized to facilitate the revered historian who has contributed significantly to enriching the lives of many people in various ways.

According to the organizers, the event will feature tributes from eminent Nigerians including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dosumu Awolowo, Richard Joseph, Bisi Fayemi and Michael Vickers among others.

Unveiling the revered historian’s profile, the organizers wrote: “Toyin Omoyeni Falola was born in Ibadan in 1953, a historian and professor of African studies. He obtained his BA and PhD (1981) in history from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in Nigeria. He is a History Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, where he has taught since 1991.

“Among young researchers, Mr. Falola is widely regarded as an outstanding mentor committed to nurturing young scholars by facilitating their viability and professional growth.

“He has received several awards for his teaching commitment to African studies, including the 2010 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, the Jean Holloway Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Texas Exes Teaching Award.

“Falola is the editor of many book series and is on the editorial boards of more than twenty magazines. She is a member of the Nigerian Historical Society and the Nigerian Academy of Letters.

“In 2011, he received the prestigious African Studies Association Distinguished Africanist Award “to recognize and honor individuals who have contributed a lifetime of outstanding scholarship in African Studies combined with service to the Africanist community.

“A professor at several universities, Mr. Falola is a member of the Nigerian Historical Society and has served as president of the African Studies Association. He also holds the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin.

“His research interest is African History since the 19th century, while his geographic areas of interest include Africa, Latin America, and the United States. His subject fields include Atlantic history, diaspora and migration, empire and globalization, intellectual history, international relations, religion and culture,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the celebration is scheduled to take place on January 1 at 3pm Nigerian time (6am PT/8am CST/9am EST) and his fans have been invited to join the event by connecting to zoom platform with meeting ID (998 646 0936) and password ([email protected]).

You can also join through the youtube link.