The Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center (Walters Center) has announced that Babajide Tella has been selected as the recipient of the 2023-2024 Winslow Sargeant Doctoral Award. The $10,000 award is given annually to a Howard University doctoral student focusing on the social sciences and humanities. 

"I am honored to receive the Winslow Sargeant Doctoral Award, which will give me a special opportunity to research Ronald Walters’ intellectual works on Africa,” said Tella, who is the first male and international student to receive the award since its inception in 2020.  

“I look forward to collaborating with the Walters Center and working under the mentorship of Dr. Scott to advance the important work politics and its impact on people here in America and around the globe.”  

Tella, a political science doctoral student from the Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria, earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in political science/international relations from the University of Ibadan in Ibadan, Nigeria.  

Since coming to Howard University in 2020, Tella has served as a teaching assistant in the Department of Political Science, as a research associate for the American Political Science Association (APSA), and a research assistant for the Center for Women, Gender, and Global Leadership. He has also worked as a student assistant at the Walters Center for a technical assistance project sponsored by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL). 

Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., who serves as the director of the Walters Center, says she has been impressed with Tella’s interest in the writings and anti-apartheid work of Walters, the renowned educator and former chair of the political science department who passed away in 2010. 

“Babajide’s academic performance and his interest in Dr. Walters’ impactful work, especially around the Free South Africa Movement, makes him an ideal recipient for this award and we are confident that he will continue to serve as a model student for others who share his interest in American and African politics,” Scott said.    

The Winslow Sargeant Doctoral Award is made possible by a gift from Winslow Sargeant, Ph.D., a friend of Walters who wanted to provide financial support to new and continuing doctoral students as they prepare to undertake future research opportunities. An engineer, Sargeant is an owner and senior strategic advisor for ITSC Secure Solutions, LLC. He is also senior advisor for globalization and head of capital markets for Genaesis.