ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

FOR THE

35^TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE RURAL SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (RuSAN) AT THE OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE, NIGERIA

The 2026 edition of the Congress has been scheduled to be held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife between 5 and 9 October 2026.  The theme 'Reimagining Rural Futures in Nigeria: Institutions, Innovation, and Inclusive Development' responds to the profound social, economic, and environmental transitions reshaping rural Nigeria. Rural spaces are no longer peripheral. They are central to national food security, employment generation, climate adaptation, and social stability. Yet persistent institutional weaknesses, inequality, environmental stress, and uneven access to innovation continue to constrain their potential. The sub-themes are:

1.     Rural Institutions, governance, and policy reforms - Strengthening structures for accountable and effective rural development.

2.     Innovation systems and digital transformation in rural Nigeria - Leveraging technology for inclusive knowledge and service delivery.

3.     Youth, gender, and social inclusion in rural futures - Expanding opportunities for marginalised rural populations.

4.     Climate change, environmental sustainability, and rural resilience - Building adaptive capacities for climate-vulnerable rural communities.

5.     Agrarian change, food systems, and livelihood diversification - Understanding transitions in farming, markets, and rural work.

6.     Rural economies, entrepreneurship, and value chain development - Enhancing income, employment, and local economic growth.

7.     Social capital, collective action, and community-led development - Harnessing networks and cooperation for sustainable rural transformation.

8.     Rural health systems, wellbeing, and inclusive service delivery - Strengthening equitable healthcare access in transforming rural communities.

The theme calls for critical reflection on how rural institutions and governance structures can be strengthened to support social transformation. It highlights the role of innovation systems, digitalisation, and knowledge flows in redefining agricultural and rural development pathways. It also places strong emphasis on inclusive livelihoods, with particular attention to youth, gender, and vulnerable populations. In addition, the theme recognises climate change and environmental sustainability as defining challenges for rural resilience. Finally, it interrogates evolving rural economies and food systems, asking what agrarian futures are desirable, viable, and socially just for Nigeria.

We hereby invite scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and stakeholders to submit abstracts that may focus on theoretical insights, empirical studies, case studies, or innovative practices that align with the congress theme and sub-themes. 

A. SUBMITTING AN ABSTRACT FOR THE 2026 ANNUAL NATIONAL CONGRESS

Participation in the 35^th Annual National Congress requires that the following steps be complied with:

1.       Only the abstracts submitted via this website (https://rusan.org.ng/p/conference) will be reckoned with.

2.       Log onto the conference website https://rusan.org.ng/login

3.       If you are not previously registered at the website, register at https://rusan.org.ng/signup. If you are returning, having been previously registered on the website, you need to log in (https://rusan.org.ng/login)

4.       Upload your abstract file, which should be in Microsoft Word and not more than 250 words via these steps:

a.     Copy and paste the abstract title; meanwhile, retain the title and authors of the work in the abstract file to be uploaded.

b.     Indicate the field of the research.

c.     Add, at least three keywords.

d.     Add the details of the author(s) of the work.

e.     Indicate the corresponding author of the submission.

f.      Indicate conflict of interest in the research work if there are.

g.     Upload the abstract file - Microsoft Word file with title, author(s)' names and institutional affiliation, the body of the abstract & keywords.

h.     Agree with the terms and conditions of the submission by checking the box.

i.      Click on ‘Upload Article’.

5.       The abstract will be reviewed, and a decision will be taken. There should be an email address through which a decision will be conveyed to the corresponding author.

6.       If your abstract is favourably reviewed, you will be required to go ahead and make the payments for the conference and paper registrations. The payment will be made and confirmed at the payment gateway on the portal.

7.       Thereafter, go ahead and prepare your PowerPoint slides for the presentation and send them to [email protected] and copy [email protected].

8.       You will register your paper at the editorial desk at the conference venue.

B. SUBMITTING MANUSCRIPT FOR CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

1.       Two weeks after the presentation at the congress (precisely 26^th October 2026), you are expected to return to the conference web page to submit the manuscript for conference proceedings up till 9^th November 2026.

2.       Log in and upload an abridged version (Times New Roman font, 1.5 line spacing, 12 font size, including reference; not more than 5 pages) of the paper, being your manuscript in the conference proceedings. 

3.       Please note that this will ONLY apply to papers that have been accepted, paid for, and presented at the congress.

4.       Manuscripts that are not uploaded or do not comply with the above-mentioned manuscript instruction can NOT feature in the 35^th edition of the RuSAN Conference Proceedings

C. SUBMITTING MANUSCRIPT FOR JOURNAL PUBLICATION

1.       For authors who may want their manuscript published in the association’s journal, the Nigerian Journal of Rural Sociology, the manuscript must be submitted at the journal’s website http://rusan.org.ng/journal. 

2.       Such manuscripts that should be submitted for a congress journal must have been accepted, paid for, and presented papers at the congress. 

3.       Authors of such submissions will have reviewers/processing fees payment waived for them.

D. IMPORTANT DATES

Deadlines

ü  Submission of abstracts - 14 August 2026

ü  Submission of PowerPoint files to the CoC - 18 September 2026

ü  Submission of manuscripts for conference proceedings - 20 November 2026 

E. FEES

Membership fees

Congress Registration fees          

Payment of fees

1.     All requisite fees must be paid before the conference. 

2.     All payments must be done at the payment gateway on the congress portal.

3.     Thereafter, authors can download the Invoice (stamped with PAID) as the Official receipt(s) of the transaction. 

4.     Again, NO CASH would be collected at the Congress venue.

Note: Accommodation requests can be made via [email protected] on or before 20 September 2026.

Click here to submit an abstract

If you need any assistance, please get in touch with us via [email protected], 08035905311