Michigan State University historian Nwando Achebe has been elected an Overseas Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, or FNAL, one of the highest honors bestowed by Nigeria's premier scholarly organization for the humanities, arts and literature.
The lifetime distinction recognizes sustained scholarly achievement and significant contributions to knowledge. Fellowship in the academy is awarded through nomination and election, with only a limited number of scholars selected each year.
For Achebe, the recognition carries a deep personal significance.
“More than 50 years ago, my father, Chinua Achebe, became one of the seven Foundation Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Letters,” Achebe said. “Fifty years later, I was elected to the Academy as a member. And today, I have had the extraordinary honor of being invested as a Fellow — joining my late father in the ranks of the Academy's Fellowship.”