LASU Center for Afro-Brazilian Studies (LASUCAS) Gets Approved

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Lagos State University, LASU Senate Approves Center for Afro-Brazilian Studies (LASUCAS) Institution for as an Academic, Socio-cultural and Economic Institution for Brazilian Heritage in Lagos, Nigeria and Diaspora.

In Nigeria, especially in Lagos, and in Benin Republic, there are Brazilian Communities, descendants of Africans who returned to Africa: Lagos, Badagry, Osogbo and Ouidah in Benin Republic as from 1840´s before abolition and 1880 after abolition of the Slave trade in Brazil. For example, the Brazilian Quarters in Campos, Olowogbowo, Sandgrosse etc. in the Lagos Island Local Government of Lagos State. Today, in spite of the many years after their return, we still have the existence, among these descendants, of some Brazilian Cultures such as Bahian Cuisine, the Festival of our Senhor do Bonfim, the Carnival celebrated annually in Brazil and also in Nigeria

RECOMMENDED: LASU Afro-Brazilian Studies (LASUCAS) Admission Form 2019/2020.

2. LASUCAS

The LASU CENTRE FOR AFROBRAZILIAN STUDIES (LASUCAS) was approved by the Senate of the Lagos State University and is conceived as an academic, sociocultural and economic institution for Brazilian heritage in Lagos in particular and in Nigeria and the diaspora in general.
It is a confluence of sociocultural and economic research activities in the area of Afrobrazilian studies and an umbrella body for all Afrobrazilian research and studies in Lagos or in Nigeria.

3. OBJECTIVES

1. To engage in and promote in-depth research on the Brazilian cultural, archaeological and architectural relics in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general, etc.
2. To serve as an umbrella body for all Afro-Brazilian cultural, research and socio-economic centres and bodies in Lagos and elsewhere in Nigeria.
3. To serve as a liaison Centre in partnership with Brazilian Descendants Association, Lagos for addressing issues of concern to Lagosians of AfroBrazilian descent in particular and Lagos State in general.
4. To bring scholars, intellectuals and policy makers from Brazil and other countries to Nigeria and provide them with an enabling environment in which to pursue their academic research on Brazil and problems with a Brazilian/Nigerian dimension in any Nigeria University or research Centres.
5. To promote and strengthen socio-economic and cultural links between the Centre and Universities/Research Institutions in Nigeria on the one hand and between the Centre and other Universities with Centres or programmes on Afrobrazilian Studies in the UK, Europe, the United States and other countries.
6. To promote commercial relationship between the Afrobrazilian descendants in Lagos and their counterparts in Brazil
7. To promote, in conjunction with the Lagos State Government and the Brazilian Descendants Association, Lagos, a socio-cultural, economic and a twin-city relationship between the city of Lagos and the city of Salvador, the State of Bahia (predominantly blacks of Yoruba origin).
8. To promote a greater understanding of Brazil and the Afrobrazilians – their history, society, culture, politics, economy and international relations – through a programme of lectures, seminars, workshops and conferences, research projects and publications.
9. To seek grants for the implementation of research activities of the Centre on specific issues of concern to Afrobrazilian descendants.
10. To serve as a Sensitization, Awareness and Reference Centre of Excellence in Africa for Afro Brazilians as well as intellectuals interested in the AfroBrazilian issues and Consciousness across the globe.

4. ORGANS

a. THE GOVERNING BOARD

The Board is the highest body for the Centre. It formulates policy, approves the Centre´s budget and consider the annual report of the Centre

b. THE SECRETARIAT

The Executive Head of the Secretariat is the Director. He is assisted by an Administrative Secretary together with other support staff. He is a member of the Governing Board and act as its Secretary. He directs the day-to-day running of the Centre, coordinates the activities of the various other
committees, prepare and execute the Centre's annual budget. In consultation with the Chairman, calls the meeting of the Board.

c. THE LASUCAS ACADEMIC COUNCIL

The Academic Council has its statutory members together. All the Researchers of the Centre including some lectures in the Department of Foreign Languages are members. The Director is the Chairman. The Academic Council develops the curriculum for the courses of the Centre
and run them. It is responsible for the appointment of the Centre´s Visiting Lecturers and manage the LASUCAS Scholarship.

d. PATRONS

The patrons act in advisory capacity and has nothing to do with the day-today activities of the Centre. They consist of three (3) eminent personalities. These are men or women of repute who are committed to the ideals of the Centre for Afrobrazilian Studies.

5. THE LASUCAS'S PROJECTS

The Centre has the following activities and programmes:
Conferences & Seminars.

• Centre of Excellence for CELPE-BRAS (Portuguese Examination to study in Brazil)

Visiting Researchers

• An LASUCAS Scholarship for Postgraduate Students.
• The LASUCAS Journal.
• The LASUCAS Annual Dinner
• The Centre's site on the Internet.
• Yoruba for Foreigners (A course in Yoruba for foreigners especially Brazilian nationals)
• The Permanent Headquarters of the Centre, Etc.

a. CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS

The Centre promotes International Conferences on diverse issues of interest on questions that unite Nigeria and Brazil. Renowned intellectuals are invited from Nigeria and abroad to give seminars and to participate in the Centre's conferences. At the end of each conference, sponsors are sought to get the papers published into a book form. Conference themes could include but not limited to:

• The Brazilian culture.
• The Nigerian Culture.
• Brazil & Brazilians: The Lagos connection.
• Nigeria-Brazil Socio-Cultural Heritage.
• Democracy and Citizenship
• The Economy
• Brazil in a Changing World
• The Social Question
• Culture, the Media and National Identity
• Human Rights and the Blacks in Brazil.
• Black organisations and African Consciousness in Brazil.
• Traditional Resource Use and Economic Development, etc.

b. RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP.

The Centre encourages Postgraduate Students, Lecturers and intellectuals from Brazil and other countries to come and spend three months in the Centre or any Institution in Nigeria linked to the Centre. These academics will normally participate in the Centre´s activities while doing their research. On the other hand, Researchers and Lecturers of the Lagos State University (LASU) who are members of the Centre will be assisted to go to Institutions linked to the Centre in Brazil to do research projects or help in the teaching of Yoruba language and culture.

c. LASUCAS Scholarship

The Centre has established a LASUCAS Scholarship. It is a 3-month Scholarship.

It is given to young academics who would come to the Centre and develop a research theme. Preference is given to Afrobrazilian postgraduate students.

d. Yoruba For Foreigners

This is a specially designed course in Yoruba language prepared by experts to teach the language, linguistics and culture of the Yoruba to foreigners, especially the Brazilian nationals. At the end of the course, participants should be able to speak the Yoruba language and understand the nuances of the language.

e. LIBRARY.

This is one of the most important arms of the Centre. Therefore, the Centre is setting up a specialised library with books and materials on African Culture, Portuguese as well as African Languages.. Funds shall be solicited to equip the library. International Organisations as well as Bookshops in Nigeria, Brazil, Europe and America would be contacted to donate books to the library.

f. MUSEUM.

The Centre has a small reference museum where artefacts and African works of art arebe exhibited. The Museum would have a gallery of African arts and souvenirs for the visiting public.

g. BOOKSHOP

As part of its activities and a way of raising funds, the Centre shall have a specialised bookshop where books on Brazil, on Portuguese and on African Languages, Linguistic and Culture would be available.

h. ANNUAL LASUCAS DINNER

There will be an annual dinner where persons involved in the development of the Centre as well as the sponsors or their representatives would be invited.

For this annual event, some hotels of International standard in Nigeria would be approached for sponsorship. Individuals or Institutions could also be contacted to underwrite the hosting of the dinner.

6. MEMBERS OF LASUCAS GOVERNING BOARD

a. Chairman: Mr Graciano Martins
Mr GRACIANO OLADIPUPO MARTINS, Nigerian, Yoruba, L.I.L.G (East) Resident in Lagos lsland, Associate Member, American institute of Management (1981). Member, Nigerian Institute of Management.
Worked in several sectors of immigration Service including foreign postings. President, Brazilian
Descendants Association, Lagos. (2015 to date). Private Business (LADMART INTERCONNECT)--Facilities Managers, Logistics, Tourism, Dairy Farming & Ranching. E-mail: gracianomartins14@gmail.com.

b. Member: Amb. Flávio R. Bonzanini
Amb Bonzanini is the Consul General of Brazil, Brazilian Consulate, Lagos, Nigeria.
E-mail: cg.lagos@itamaraty.gov.br

c. Member: Prof. Harrison Adeniyi
Prof Harrison Adeniyi is a Professor of Linguistics and teaches Linguistics, Yoruba and
Communications in the Lagos State University. He is the National President of Linguistic Association of Nigeria. A Visiting Professor at the Dept of Anthropology, University of Vermont, Burlington,
USA and a Visiting Scholar at the University Research Institute of World Languages, Osaka,
Japan. He is currently the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University. Email: Harrison.adeniyi@lasu.edu.ng


d. Member: Dr Ahmed Adesanya
Dr Adesanya, an expert in Yoruba literature (stylistics), culture and Communication Arts and is currently the Head of Department of Linguistics and African Languages, Lagos State
E-mail: ahmed.adesanya@lasu.edu.ng University.

e. Member & Director: Dr Tayo Ajayi
Dr Ajayi is an Assoc. Professor of Linguistics & Portuguese Studies in the Department of Foreign
Languages, LASU. He did his doctorate in the Federal University of Minas Gerais, (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil. A former Brazil PEC-G and SOAS, London Scholar, he is a Member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (MNIM), Member, Nigerian Institute of Translators, (FNIT). He is a Consultant/Translator/Interpreter to many international organisations like UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD. He has written many research papers in both local and international journals in the areas of Tertiary Educational Management, International Bilateral Relations and Black in Diaspora Studies,
International Tourism Development, Translation, Linguistic and Afrobrazilian Studies. Widely travelled, he speaks Portuguese, English, French and Yoruba fluently and has a working knowledge of Spanish. E-mail: omoajayi62@gmail.com / tayo.ajayi@lasu.edu.ng .
Tel: 234-80-63323910 / 80-23312971

f. PATRONS
Details to be included very soon

g. Administrative Secretary – Mr Oladipupo Bada
Mr Bada is a Principal Assistant Registrar in the Registry Division of the Lagos State University. A seasoned Administrator, he is a Member of the Association of University Professional Administrators (ANUPA), Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).