Report on the First Webinar Series: “Mastering Information Search Strategies for Area Studies: A Focus on West Africa”
Published: May 19, 2025 
Source: (SGRC-WA Relations Office)
Date: May 16, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM CST
Venue: SGRC-WA Conference Room (3505) / Microsoft Teams
Organizer: Sino-Ghana Research Centre for West Africa (SGRC-WA) In Collaboration With Prempeh II Library, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi-Ghana
The Sino-Ghana Research Centre for West Africa (SGRC-WA) successfully hosted the first installment of its Area Studies Webinar Series on Friday, May 16, 2025. The “Mastering Information Search Strategies for Area Studies: A Focus on West Africa” session was conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams and in person at the SGRC-WA Conference Room.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Yaw Akwoyire Aviamu, Head of the Department of Academic Engagement at the Prempeh II Library at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana, with technical support from SAY H-Ackumey. His “Effective Information Search Techniques for Area Studies Research” talk equipped participants with practical strategies for navigating academic databases, utilizing Boolean operators and filters, evaluating source credibility, and leveraging tools such as JSTOR, Google Scholar, and specialized African databases.
The event attracted around 18 participants, mainly lecturers from the School of Foreign Studies and Trade (SFST). Notably, Prof. Zhai Quan Wei, the vice dean of SFST, was also present, highlighting the event’s academic significance and institutional support.
The Director of SGRC-WA, Dr. Lemuel Gbologah, moderated the session with technical and coordination support from Dr. Yongdan Hou. An insightful presentation and a well-managed Q&A segment made for an engaging and informative session for all attendees.
[Attendees go through a hands-on session during the webinar series]
Participants received a free resource toolkit with a curated list of databases, research guides, and academic tools relevant to West African studies. The attendees particularly appreciated the interactive demonstration of search techniques and the real-time exploration of West African research resources.
This successful kickoff paves the way for future webinars in the series, which will explore archival research methods, ethical fieldwork practices, and strategies for publishing area studies research.
