CMU Faculty

Ikeoluwapo approaches education as both an intellectual and moral practice concerned with the formation of persons, communities, and democratic societies. His work brings the philosophy of education into conversation with African philosophy, virtue ethics, critical pedagogy, and decolonial thought. He is particularly interested in questions concerning intellectual and moral virtue, epistemic justice, liberal education, teacher formation, and the ethical purposes of schools and universities. His current research explores how African and Black intellectual traditions, especially the Yoruba concept of Omoluabi, can contribute to contemporary discussions about character formation, knowledge, and educational flourishing.

His doctoral dissertation, From Aristotle to Omoluabi: Rethinking Intellectual and Moral Virtues in Contemporary University Education, develops a framework for understanding intellectual and moral virtues through dialogue between Aristotelian philosophy and African educational thought. He has also contributed to collaborative research on education, identity, solidarity, and human rights in contexts of war and displacement, particularly in relation to the experiences of young people during the conflict and genocide in Tigray, Ethiopia. His broader research agenda examines the role of education in cultivating ethical responsibility, democratic citizenship, and relational forms of knowledge across diverse cultural contexts.

In addition to teaching courses in educational foundations, Ikeoluwapo enjoys helping students engage difficult theoretical ideas and connect them to contemporary educational challenges. His teaching is informed by experiences across secondary and postsecondary education in Nigeria and Canada and is grounded in relational pedagogy, whole-person education, philosophical inquiry, thoughtful scholarship, and a commitment to inclusive and justice-oriented educational practice.

Ikeoluwapo completed his PhD in Education at Queen’s University under the supervision of Dr. David Bakhurst. He previously earned a Master of Education in the Philosophy of Education and a Bachelor of Education in Adult Education and Political Science from the University of Ibadan. Before joining Canadian Mennonite University, he taught in secondary schools in Nigeria and held teaching and research appointments at Queen’s University and the University of Ibadan. He has also been actively involved in educational leadership, scholarly publishing, labour advocacy, mentorship, and community-based initiatives in Canada and Nigeria.

Areas of Teaching

Inclusive Education, Anti-oppressive Education, Culturally Responsive Pedagogies, Technology and Media Literacy, Virtue Education, Pedagogies of Peace and Justice

Education

PhD, Queen's University, 2026: MEd, University of Ibadan, 2020; BEd, University of Ibadan, 2015

Work in Detail

Teaching

Sample Courses:

EDUC 3200 – Inclusive Education

EDUC 3400 – Anti-oppressive Education and Culturally Responsive Pedagogies

EDUC 3480 – Hands-on Approaches to Science and Math

EDUC 3520 – Technological and Media Literacy Across the Curriculum

EDUC 4820 – Pedagogies of Peace and Justice

EDUC 4900 – Education Practicum III

Research

Selected Articles

"In defense of intellectual virtues in higher education" (Forthcoming in the Philosophy of Education, 2026).

"Human Rights Are Not for Black Peoples: Understandings of International Human Right Discourses by Young Adults in Tigray During War and Genocide" (Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education, 2025)

"Reconceptualising Early Childhood Education in Nigeria: A Praxis for Policy and Research" (Oxford Review of Education, 2025)

"A Conversation with ChatGPT: Philosophy, Critical Thinking, and Higher Education" (Journal of AI, 2025)

"The Historian and the Past in the Present Age: Omolewa and Adesina's Inaugural Lectures in Perspective" (Journal of Research Initiatives, 2024)

For the most current list of publications, conference presentations, and research activities, please visit my personal website.

Applied

Refereed Creative Publications

Baruwa, I. B. (2025). The advocate. In The Land and Labour Poetry Collective (Eds.), Poems on working life in the climate crisis: I'll get right on it (p. 72). Roseway Publishing.

Open Educational Publications

Baruwa, I. B. (2024). Let's talk about digitalization and the global education agenda, https://educ.queensu.ca/research/knowledge-forum/knowledge-forum-2023-24

Baruwa, I. B. (2021). Injustice and the world now, https://tribuneonlineng.com/injustice-and-the-world-now/

Community

He currently serves as a member of the Faculty Research Committee at Canadian Mennonite University. Previously, he served as President of PSAC 901 at Queen's University, representing over 2000 graduate student workers and postdoctoral fellows. He has also held editorial leadership roles as Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Queen's Journal of Education, Managing Editor of Research in a Nutshell, and Lead Copyeditor for the Bloomsbury International Handbook Series on Leadership in Higher Education in Times of Crises and Change. His community work includes mentorship through the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program, educational support initiatives for students in Nigeria, technology-access projects in Canada and Nigeria, and collaborative projects focused on equity, inclusion, and social justice in education. He regularly presents research at national and international conferences and serves as a reviewer for journals and scholarly associations in education, philosophy, and social justice studies.