Awards

Lifetime Career Awards

2009 Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Chair of Modern African History at- Large, Benue State
  University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
2009 Africana Studies Distinguished Global Scholar Lifetime Achievement Award, Indiana
  University Purdue University Indianapolis. 2009 Ibadan Foundation Award, Ibadan, Nigeria.
2009 Award for Excellence, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos, Nigeria.
2009 International Day Award for Excellence, Langston University.
2008 Quintessence Award, African Writers Endowment.
2008 Distinguished Africana Award, Florida International University.
2007 Honorary Doctorate of Humanities, Monmouth University, New Jersey.
2007 Prémio Africa Brasil, Centro Cultural Africano.
2006 Award of Excellence, Federal College of Education-Abeokuta, Nigeria.
2006 Cheikh Anta Diop Award for Excellence in African Studies.
2006 Udogu Award for excellent teaching, prolific scholarship and humanitarian service
  in Africa and its Diaspora, African Studies and Research Forum.
2006 Distinguished Alumnus Award, The ex-students of Obafemi Awolowo University, the
  USA chapter.
2006 Distinguished Nigerian Award, the Nigerian Studies Association.
 2006 Isese Distinguished Fellow Award of Honor, the Ibadan Cultural Studies, University of
  Ibadan, Nigeria.
2005 Fellow of the Historical Society of Nigeria.
2004 Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters.
2004 Ibn Khaldun Distinguished Research Excellence Award.
2004 President’s Distinguished Leadership and Scholarship Award, Association of Third
  World Studies.

Teaching Awards
The University of Texas at Austin 2010 Outstanding Graduate Teacher
2004 Elected to the Academy of Distinguished Teachers
2003 Chancellor’s Council Outstanding Teaching Award
 2001 Texas Excellence Teaching Award
 2000 Jean Holloway Award for Teaching Excellence

Book Awards
Selected listing2005 Winner, Cecil B. Currey Award, Association of Third World Studies for Economic Reforms and Modernization in Nigeria
2004 - 2005 Herskovits Award Finalist, African Studies Association award for best English-language book in African Studies, for A Mouth Sweeter Than Salt
Hamilton Runners-up, (University of Texas Coop) for A Mouth Sweeter Than Salt
2004 Conover-Porter Finalist Certificate, African Studies Association, for Key Events in African History: A Reference Guide.
2003 Choice Outstanding Academic Title for Sources and Methods in African History.

Honors and Fellowships
2007 Visiting Professor, Pontifícia Universidade Católica De São Paulo
1999 Carter Visiting Professor, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts
1995 Fellow, Humanities Research Council, Australian National University, Australia
1989 Life Member, Clare Hall, University of Cambridge, England
1988 Smuts Fellowship, University of Cambridge, England (through 1989)
1989 Project Coordinator, then Consultant, Oral Documentation Project, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (through 1990)
1980 United States Education Travel Award, Operation Crossroads Africa