Ruthneldha Attilus
DARE Project: Taming the Niger River: Dams and Socioeconomic Development in Twentieth-Century West Africa
Program(s) of Study: Political Science
Project Supervisor: Damilola Adebayo
I hope this research will contribute to a deeper understanding of how large-scale environmental projects, like dam construction, affect not only ecosystems but also the political and socioeconomic structures of communities, especially in formerly colonized regions.
Project Description:
The project, Taming the Niger River: Dams and Socioeconomic Development in Twentieth-Century West Africa, explored the political, economic, and environmental impact of dam construction along the Niger River. Working under Professor Adebayo, I focused on identifying and analyzing French and English academic sources related to the history of hydropower and river management in West Africa. I contributed to the creation of an annotated bibliography and a literature review by using tools like Zotero and advanced search strategies. Through this, I helped examine how dam projects intersect with themes of colonialism, capitalism, and postcolonial development.The Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (DARE) - Undergraduate enables our students to meaningfully engage in research projects supervised by LA&PS faculty members. Find out more about DARE.