Dr. Alao is a Senior Research Fellow at the Conflict Security and Development Group within the School of Social Science and Public Policy, King’s College London, and is currently working on an ESRC Funded project on Radicalisation in West Africa. He holds a PhD in War Studies from King’s College London and has held teaching and research positions at Universities in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and the UK. He has written extensively on African security issues, including The Tragedy of Endowment: Natural Resources and Conflict in Africa. Dr. Alao has also been involved in policy oriented research. He has participated in the decision-making process of international organizations and countries in Africa, including the United Nations, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).