Professor Lawrence Ojo Bamikole is a philosopher, respected for his ability to creatively synthesise ideas showing how philosophy is down to earth and makes a radical difference in daily life. He served as a Senior Lecturer in philosophy at The UWI’s Mona Campus from 2002 to 2007 and then from 2010. Professor Bamikole was also Head of the Department of Philosophy and an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria from 2009 to 2010; Coordinator of the Philosophy Section of the Department of Language, Linguistics and Philosophy at Mona between 2011 and 2012 and between 2013 and 2014 as well as Head, Department of Language, Linguistics and Philosophy between 2014 and 2017.

The holder of a BA (Hons.) (1983) and an MA (1987) in Philosophy both from the University of Ife, Nigeria, Professor Bamikole went on to complete his doctoral studies gaining a PhD in Philosophy (1995) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He specialises in Value Philosophy including the examination of social and political philosophy, ethics and aesthetics and their application to Africana philosophy. His writings demonstrate how he makes a meaningful whole of different branches of philosophy.

Professor Bamikole has authored one monograph and edited two books; one a text book and the other a collection of readings and a teaching resource. His published work also includes ten book chapters and 26 peer-reviewed journal articles with another article accepted for publication, five in preparation and six other publications including an article in the Jamaica’s Sunday Gleaner titled “The Practical Relevance of Philosophy.”

One external assessor noted that “one of his major strengths and original contributions in his articles is his ability to synthesise ideas creatively.”

His works have explored modern relevant topics including the connections between terrorism and globalisation, the idea of a Caribbean philosophy and whether it exists for example in Rastafarianism; democracy and multiculturalism; Rastafarian thought and identity; and ‘The Concept of Rights in the Western (Anglo-American) and African (Yoruba) philosophies.” One assessor noted “He writes as an African philosopher—a philosopher who is not oblivious of his connection with fellow Africans and fellow human beings. He has one foot on African philosophy (African and the African Diaspora) and the other foot on Euro-Western philosophy.”

As an academic Professor Bamikole’s work is widely and significantly cited. He has presented at 39 conferences and supervised the graduate research of eight students including two at the PhD level. He currently supervises three PhD and three Masters students.