The African Borderlands Research Network (ABORNE) has announced its 2026 Annual Conference, scheduled to take place from August 24–27, 2026, at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojoo, Lagos.

The conference will be jointly hosted by LASU and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), marking a major academic–security sector collaboration in the study of African borderlands. The 3-day event will focus on the theme: “The Connected Borderlands: Socio-Cultural Integration, and the Centrality of Policy, Research and Security.”

The Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, disclosed the collaboration during a visit to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap, at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, where both institutions commenced preparatory discussions for the event.

Speaking on the significance of the partnership, Prof. Olatunji-Bello said the conference presents “an important platform for deepening research, strengthening institutional collaboration, and advancing the conversation on border governance, identity, and security in Africa.”

She added that LASU is “proud to host scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world, as we examine the realities and possibilities that shape borderland societies.”

Organisers noted that modern border regions are not just markers of separation but dynamic spaces where cultures interact, economies intersect, and governance challenges unfold. The conference aims to explore these complexities through academic presentations, panel discussions, and policy dialogues, drawing perspectives from across Africa and beyond.

It will feature paper presentations and roundtable engagements covering key issues such as border governance, cross-border security, migration and displacement, informal trade networks, cultural hybridity, gender and youth in border development, climate impacts, and the broader dynamics of regional integration.

Scholars and practitioners are invited to submit abstracts of 250–300 words for papers, panels, or roundtables. Submissions must include the paper title, five keywords, author(s) information, institutional affiliation, and relevance to the conference theme. Each participant is allowed only one submission.

Important Deadlines:

Abstract submission closes: January 15, 2026

Notification of acceptance: March 30, 2026

The conference will conclude with an academic field trip on August 28, 2026, covering the Badagry–Porto Novo–Seme-Krake corridor, offering participants firsthand exposure to borderland dynamics in West Africa.

For submissions and inquiries, participants can contact the ABORNE Secretariat at LASU via aborne-nigeria@lasu.edu.ng, or reach the conference leads:

ABORNE Chief: Dr. Willie Eselebor – wa.eselebor@urti-int.org

LASU Focal Person: Prof. Adetunji Azeez – Adetunji.azeez@lasu.edu.ng

Contact Number: +234 803 718 8512