Nouréini Tidjani-Serpos

Due to his intellectual qualities as a lettered man, Nouréini Tidjani-Serpos inscribes himself resolutely in a universal approach. He tries to promote a cross-sectoral approach and is thus sensible to the cultures of the world, differences,and to solidarity. As an essayist, literary critic, novelist and poet, Nouréini Tidjani-Serpos has published seven books, many works, and more than a hundred articles in world-renowned magazines. He was also co-director of the Nigerian Journal of Humanities, director of the “Journal of the Literary Society of Nigeria” and a member of the editing committee of the magazine Présence Africaine. Like all poets, Nouréini Tidjani-Serpos is a man of truth, liberty, and justice. Starting from his first job as a teacher, he has engaged himself in the mission to transmit knowledge, the same function which is at the center of UNESCO's activities. He taught Comparative African Literature from 1972 to 1991 at the University of Paris VIII, at the National University of Benin, and at the Federal University of Benin City in Nigeria. In addition to his teaching roles, he has also performed numerous other management functions at the university: he was chair of the Modern Humanities department, a member of the Administrative Council of the University for Social ,Cultural and Environmental Research, Chairman of the board of the Council of Administration for the University of Benin City's secondary pilot school (1982–1985),and national president of the Association of Modern Literature of Nigeria(1980–1982).

Nouréini Tidjani-Serpos (born 15 January 1946 in Porto-Novo, Benin) studied literature in France and obtained a PhD and a D.Lit.in the subject from the University of Lille III (1987).