BIOGRAPHY
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science, specializing in political behavior, campaign messaging, and democratic governance in multiethnic societies, with a focus on Africa and global contexts. My dissertation explores how elite communication, particularly negative campaign messages, interacts with the media to shape voter perceptions, group dynamics, and trust in democratic institutions. It also examines the media’s role in either reinforcing or mitigating ethnic polarization, and its effects on social cohesion, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding. I use experimental methods, interviews, archival research, and textual analysis to explore these dynamics. My dissertation is funded by the Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen) at Michigan State University, The Richard A. Horovitz Fund for Professional Development, the Institute for Humane Studies, the Alliance for African Partnership, and the African Studies Center.
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication (First Class) from the University of Lagos, an Erasmus Mundus Master's in Journalism, Media, and Globalization (with a specialization in Media and Politics) from the University of Amsterdam, Aarhus University, and the Danish School of Media and Journalism. Additionally, I hold an MA in Political Science from Michigan State University.