Bankolay Theodore Turay

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Bankolay Theodore Turay is a Sierra Leonean PhD scholar currently researching sustainable urbanisation at the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos. His research is conducted as part of the Wits-TUB-Unilag Urban Lab, a programme funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies from the University of Makeni (UNIMAK), Sierra Leone, and a Master of Science in Land Governance and Policy from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Bankolay currently serves as the Project Coordinator for Medici Land Governance, working on the World Bank-funded Sierra Leone Land Administration Project. He has a proven track record in conducting rigorous research, particularly regarding rural community development, women’s land rights, and the dynamics of urbanisation. His PhD thesis, Tenure Conflicts and Women’s Access to Land for Sustainable Livelihoods in Peri-Urban Settlements in Sierra Leone, examines critical aspects of land tenure security and its impact on women’s livelihoods within rapidly urbanising contexts. Bankolay has contributed to the enhancement of academic programmes by participating in the development and review of the Land Governance and Management curriculum at the University of Makeni, supported by NELGA. His research interests, which align closely with his academic and professional experience, encompass sustainable development, urbanisation, women’s land rights, and land governance reforms.

Experience

  • 2025–2025
    Project Coordinator/KE6, Medici Land Governance
  • 2022–2024
    Researcher/Rappateur, Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos
  • 2020–2022
    Research Assistant/Project Support Officer, University of Makeni
  • 2019–2021
    Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (Secondment), Access to Justice Law Center (AJLC)-University of Makeni
  • 2012–2020
    Community Field Officer, On Our Radar Media Development
  • 2006–2013
    Research Assistant , Institute of Research and Policy Management

Education

  • 2022 
    Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology , MSc. Land Governance & Policy
  • 2022 
    University of Lagos, PhD Candidate Sustainable Urbanization
  • 2018 
    University of Makeni, BA Development Studies

Publications

  • 2025
    Customary Land Governance and Rural Women’s Access to Land in Sierra Leone: A Case Study of Tambakha Simibungie Chiefdom, North-west Province, Journal of Land and Rural Studies
  • 2025
    Determinants of Women’s Land Tenure Security in Peri-Urban Grafton, Sierra Leone, African Journal of Housing and Sustainable Development
  • 2024
    Implications of Decentralization and Urban Planning on Flooding in Freetown; Different Sectoral Land Use Policies, African Journal on Land Policy and Geo-spatial Science
  • 2024
    Dynamics of Large Scale Land Deals: Implications of Local Political Influence on Land Grabbing in Northern Sierra Leone, African Journal on Land Policy and Geo-spatial Sciences
  • 2023
    Improved Land Reforms to the Benefit of Women’s Access to Land to foster and support social norm change: A case study of Western Area Rural district and Bombali district in Sierra Leone, African Journal on Land Policy and Geo-spatial Sciences
  • 2022
    Policy and legislative gaps in customary land revenue management in Ghana: emerging issues from Ashanti Region, Ghana, Survey Review
  • 2022
    The Dynamics of Access and Exclusion of Women to Land Resources. A Case Study of Tambakha Simibungie Chiefdom, North-West Province, Sierra Leone, Survey Review
  • 2021
    Land tenure and its implications on Local Land Governance in Sierra Leone: A case study of Bombali District, Journal of Land Management and Appraisal

Professional Memberships

  • Network of Excellence in Land Governance (NELGA)-Alumni
  • Africa University Research Alliance-(AURA)
  • Wits-TUB-UNILAG (Urban Lab)- Alumni
  • German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)-Alumni

Contact Bankolay for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision