Taibat Lawanson is Professor of Urban Management and Governance at the University of Lagos, Nigeria where she leads the Pro-poor Development research cluster. Her research and advocacy focus on the interface of social complexities, urban realities, and the pursuit of spatial justice in Africa.

Currently, she is working in the areas of urban politics, migration, livelihood transitions, and urban integration practices of internally displaced persons. She is well known for her transdisciplinary approach which engages students, policy makers, civil society actors and local communities. Her publications can be accessed here.

She is a member of the board of Directors of the Lagos Studies Association and the New South Institute respectively; Editorial/editorial advisory committees of leading urban studies journals including Urban Forum, Urban Studies, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research and Housing Studies. She is a member of the steering committee of Future Earth Urban Knowledge Action Network and the International advisory committee of UNHABITAT’s flagship World Cities Report.

Taibat is a pioneer World Social Science Fellow of the International (Social) Science Council and an alumna of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Centre.