Early Career Researcher 2023
Stephen Ajadi, PhD Researcher, Department of Land Economy, School of Humanities and Social Sciences and President Cambridge Initiative for African Urbanism
The Vice-Chancellor's Awards
for Research Impact and Engagement
About the researcher
Stephen Ajadi is a Doctoral researcher at the Department of Land Economy & a member of Fitzwilliam College. An award-winning architect and development economist, he has conducted groundbreaking research on the spatial impact of extreme conflict and violence in northern Nigeria.
Over four years, he led the largest ethnographic study ever attempted in a volatile African city of the region garnering over 7000 physical interviews. His awarding-winning study uncovered critical spatial and policy gaps, offering practical strategies for engagement. Implementation of his findings has begun at a small scale in Nigeria, with recommendations for broader impact.
By enhancing urban spatial awareness and promoting social resilience, Stephen's work aims to reduce vulnerability to conflict and violence. He founded the Penumbra Foundation and the Cambridge Initiative for African Urbanism. Through these organizations, he raised £150k in funding and real estate value for infrastructure addressing conflict-related issues across communities.
The Vice-Chancellor's Awards
for Research Impact and Engagement
About the researcher
Stephen Ajadi is a Doctoral researcher at the Department of Land Economy & a member of Fitzwilliam College. An award-winning architect and development economist, he has conducted groundbreaking research on the spatial impact of extreme conflict and violence in northern Nigeria.
Over four years, he led the largest ethnographic study ever attempted in a volatile African city of the region garnering over 7000 physical interviews. His awarding-winning study uncovered critical spatial and policy gaps, offering practical strategies for engagement. Implementation of his findings has begun at a small scale in Nigeria, with recommendations for broader impact.
By enhancing urban spatial awareness and promoting social resilience, Stephen's work aims to reduce vulnerability to conflict and violence. He founded the Penumbra Foundation and the Cambridge Initiative for African Urbanism. Through these organizations, he raised £150k in funding and real estate value for infrastructure addressing conflict-related issues across communities.
It is with great honour and appreciation that we extend our Gratitude for their
contributions to our community's safety and resilience in the face of conflict and violent attacks
Muhammad Shettima
Secretary, Community Youth Leader
What is the research?
My research is on the spatial impact of extreme conflict and violence on open spaces in Nigeria and certain areas of the Sahel. It focused particularly on the vulnerability of informal open markets.
Over the past 4 years, I have led the largest set of ethnographic studies ever in one of the most unstable cities in Africa, physically interviewing nearly 7000 people in all its neighbourhoods, and two large open markets in another city of similar risk. This is in addition to various other large-scale data generated. With boundaries of knowledge pushed in conflict theory, methodology and policy, my study shows societal and policy gaps with realistic strategies to engage them.
The findings specifically improve urban spatial awareness, innovative social resilience, and urban-rural security policy in informal open spaces across West Africa.
The study has resulted in a positive small-scale implementation in northern Nigeria with recommendations for larger impact plans. If implemented at the right scale and in the right manner, the findings can help prevent and (or) significantly reduce vulnerability to violent conflict and terror.
My study was awarded a 2023 Cambridge Society for Application of Research (CSAR) award, for distinct research excellence and the positive significance of its application and potential impact in society.
This study was often regarded as the riskiest PhD research in Cambridge's humanities and social sciences (if not the entire university) but all due precautions were taken and the findings were worth it, as they have the capacity of saving millions of lives.
Through their efforts, we have seen tangible improvements in our community's social outlook for safety and also a way of ensuring non-extremist movements even though our community is not known for it
Muhammad Shettima
Secretary, Community Youth Leader
Future of the research
The future of Stephen's study will see the expansion of its scale across international borders deeper into the Sahel. More informal open spaces will be studied with the aim of increasing resilience and reducing vulnerability to conflict and violence at various scales and typologies of propagation.
More immediately, In the upcoming summer, he will be building as a pavilion, a prototype unit from a conflict-resilient market masterplan he designed in Nigeria. The exhibition will be at Robinson College, in Cambridge and it will be open to the public. Partnering with world class UK architecture and engineering firms, and aims to showcase aspects of my research physically on the University of Cambridge grounds, hosting conversations to broaden the impact of findings.
Quick fire Q&A
Stephen Ajadi
1
What would others be surprised to learn about you?
I am an avid polo player, and I formally practice Kendo, the Japanese way of the Sword.
2
What motivates you?
Certain social problems of the world. They don’t seem to stop…neither can I.
3
If you could wake up tomorrow with a new skill, what would it be?
Advanced Machine Learning, it seems most of the people who know the skill today, know very little about true social science. Although, I really fantasise about being able to cook all the main dishes of southern Nigeria.
4
What advances would you like to see in your field within your lifetime?
The emergence of new sustainable cities in Africa that embody the emancipation of the continent’s land economy. Then of course, a unidirectional development of peace across sub-Saharan Africa…I know this one is a big ask, but wouldn’t it be beautiful?
5
What did you want to be growing up?
Exactly what I am now: an Architect and a Development Economist. The ‘economist’ bit came much later I’ll admit, but I had always wanted to be an architect.
6
What is the best bit of advice you’ve been given?
“Do not be afraid to Love and be sincerely kind”.
7
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being able to constantly see good—no matter how hidden, within people and the world, despite my deep exploration of extreme conflict and violence.
Built with Shorthand