Professor Akanbi Mudasiru Ilupeju is a distinguished Nigerian scholar, linguist and academic administrator specialising in French, Applied Linguistics, Translation and Sociolinguistics. He holds the cultural title of Omowale of Moyeloye Dynasty in Ejigboland. He is a Doctoral Fellow of the Across Global Institute of Foreign Languages (DF/FAGIFL) and a Member of the Academy of Letters (MAL).

Academic profile and research interests. Professor Ilupeju’s research portfolio spans language policy, translation studies and cultural advocacy across West Africa. In sociolinguistics he researches urban “street French” (français de rue), exploring linguistic variation across major West African francophone metropolises including Abidjan, Cotonou and Lomé. In customary diplomacy he focuses on the role of African customary diplomacy, particularly within Yoruba traditions, as a mechanism for Pan-African intercultural dialogue, conflict resolution and continental unity. In the creative economy he researches the intersection of cultural heritage, traditional institutions and global economic futures.

Professional experience and leadership. He served as Head of European Languages and Integration Studies and is a two-term Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Lagos, from August 2023 to July 2027. He has spearheaded major curriculum reviews within the University’s humanities programmes to align academic frameworks with contemporary African realities and integration goals, and delivered his Inaugural Lecture at the University of Lagos on 18 June 2025, titled “Je n’en ai pas besoin: Help Me With The Translation.”

Editorial roles and global engagement. He serves as Editor-in-Chief for monograph series and academic publications focused on French language didactics, pedagogical integration and integration studies. A polyglot fluent in Yoruba, Djoula (Malinké), French and English, he has contributed his expertise internationally, including as an expert analyst for VOA Afrique.