J. Amina Bitiyong Zemo is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution - Abuja, a government think-tank which is the hub of Nigeria’s expertise on peace and governance. The IPCR operates under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs driving peace-focused policies.

Amina obtained her first degree in Law (LL.B) in 1994 at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and then proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos where she was called to Bar. She went back to Ahmadu Bello University for a post-graduate diploma in Management (PGDM). Amina spent a brief stint at Tufts University, Massachusetts USA but completed her M. Sc. in Peace, Conflict and Strategic Studies at the Nile University, Nigeria. She is currently a Ph.D. student of Gender Studies at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria.

Amina’s project is on Banditry and the Effects of Banditry on Women’s Livelihoods in Selected Communities in Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The Balzan Research Project Prize will significantly support her research work. Lack of funds is always a great limitation to comprehensive fieldwork. Other resources now being made available to Amina, for instance ANU’s vast e-library is a researcher’s dream come true as it will allow Amina to access archival and data sources. Amina believes that the international recognition of this prize will expand the scope, depth and impact of her work. In addition, the wealth of experience from RegNet will also add diverse perspective and collaboration to Amina’s work.