Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Olumide Abimbola

Career summary
I am an economic anthropologist with more than four years of extensive research and analysis experience on West
Africa’s political economy. I have either worked or undertaken qualitative research in Benin, Germany, Nigeria,
Togo and the UK. I have a rich international and multicultural experience having worked, lived and travelled
extensively in West Africa, Europe and the US.

Teaching and research experience

Institut für Ethnologie, Martin-Luther University
Lecturer (Winter semester 2010/2011)
• Taught an economic anthropology course
• Supervised undergraduate students’ papers and projects

Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology

PhD researcher (Nov 2006 – October 2010)
• Carried out a year-long qualitative ethnographic fieldwork with traders in the informal sector in
Benin, Togo and Nigeria
• Researched cross-border relations between Nigeria and Benin
• Conducted research with migrants in the southern part of Germany
• Researched the British textile recycling industry
• Presented and discussed findings in conferences, seminars and workshops around the world

University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre, Nigeria

Resource Person (Nov. 2005 - Feb. 2006)
• Worked on curriculum development for a post-graduate diploma in Development Studies

Eyaen Secondary School, Benin-City, Nigeria

Teacher (March 2003 – Feb 2004)

Edo Broadcasting service, Benin-City, Nigeria

Radio and television presenter (March 2003 – Feb 2004)

Information Aid Network (IFAnet), Ibadan, Nigeria

Research assistant (June 2001 – Jan 2003)

Communication experience

• For about half a year (from the Summer of 2009 till the end of the year), I wrote a weekly column for
BusinessDay, a Nigerian business daily. It can be found at http://column.loomnie.com
• I write a blog on political economy, development, economic anthropology, finance and Africa at
www.loomnie.com
• I have contributed to the popular Anthropology blog www.savageminds.com
• I have blogged for an arm of the online donation platform www.betterplace.org at http://www.betterplace-
lab.org/en/blog
• I edit the Nigerian opinion and analysis website www.nigerianstalk.org
• I wrote on the Nigerian textile industry for the South African-based TradeInvest Magazine
(http://goo.gl/5V8c)
• I am a contributor to the new analysis website Think Africa Press (http://thinkafricapress.com/experts).
Education
• PhD in Social Anthropology, Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany (Feb. 2011)

• Masters in Development Studies, Uppsala University, Sweden (2005)

• B.A. Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, Nigeria (2002)

Membership of Professional Associations

Member, International Society for Third-Sector Research
Member, African Sociological Association
Member, Development Studies Association
Member, African Studies Association
Member, American Anthropological Association

Publications
Forthcoming. The International Trade in Second-hand Clothing Managing Information Asymmetry between West
African and British Trader. Textile: Journal of Cloth and Culture

2009. Being similar: other-identification during fieldwork. Anthropology Matters Journal. Vol. 11 (1)

2009. Review: The Power of the Stranger: Structures and Dynamics in Social Intervention-A Theoretical
Framework. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and nonprofit organizations 20 (3): 313-314

2008. Review: Civil Society: Berlin Perspectives. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit
Organizations 19 (2): 211-213

Conference papers and invited addresses

“Benin-Nigeria secondhand clothing cross-border trade.” Invited lecture to students of anthropology at Leipzig
University. 16.12.2010.

“Benin-Nigeria Secondhand Clothing Cross-border Trade in Historical Perspective.” Annual Meeting of the
African Borderlands Research Network. Basel, Switzerland. 08 Oct. 2010 – 12 Oct. 2010

“Igbo Trade Networks and Secondhand Clothing: Solving the Quality Problem.” Recycling Textile Technologies
workshop. University College London. 14 June 2010

“Understanding the British Textile Recycling Industry.” American Anthropological Association Meeting.
Philadelphia, U.S.A. 2 – 6 Dec 2009

“Exploring the Formal-Informal Dichotomy.” European Conference on African Studies. Leipzig, Germany. 4 – 7
June 2009

“Patron-Client Relations among Igbo Migrant Traders.” African Studies Association Meeting. Chicago, U.S.A.
12 – 16 Nov 2008

Other skills
Language skills: (1) Yoruba – Native (2) English – Excellent, (3) German – Intermediate level (4) French –
working knowledge, and (5) Swedish – basic

Computer skills: Very familiar with the Mac, PC and Linux operating environments. Good command of
Microsoft Office and Open Office tools.
References
Available upon request