School of Social Sciences and Professions staff profiles content store_hidden Damilola Makanju Our staff

Damilola joined London Metropolitan University in 2023, having previously held teaching and research positions at the University of Exeter (UK), Bath Spa University (UK) and Alex Ekwueme Federal University (Nigeria).

Damilola began his academic journey at the University of Lagos, where he obtained a BSc in Psychology, before completing an MSc in Social and Organisational Psychology at the University of Exeter. Following his MSc, he worked as an Assistant Lecturer at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, teaching modules in social, environmental, organisational and experimental psychology.

He subsequently completed a PhD in Psychology at the University of Exeter, where his research examined the role of African history in social identity processes, collective political action and intergroup relations. During his doctoral studies, he also worked as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant, contributing to undergraduate teaching in social psychology and research methods, including qualitative research methods, interview skills and statistics.

Following his PhD, Damilola held a postdoctoral research position at the University of Exeter, investigating ethnic disparities in legal professional assessments as part of a project funded by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. During this period, he also held an Associate Lecturer position at Bath Spa University's Business School, supervising master's dissertations across organisational psychology, organisational behaviour, consumer psychology, equality, diversity and inclusion, business strategy and leadership.

Alongside his position at London Metropolitan University, Damilola is currently working with the University of Surrey on a research project for the NHS Race and Health Observatory examining ethnicity-related pay and career progression inequalities within the NHS workforce. He leads the qualitative analysis component of the research, contributing to the evidence base on workforce inequalities and organisational practices aimed at addressing them.

Damilola teaches social and organisational psychology, equality, diversity and inclusion, and academic and professional skills across different levels at London Metropolitan University. His teaching responsibilities include the following:

Modules Led

• Preparing for Success (PC3050)
• Working with Diverse Populations (PC3052)
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Psychology (PC4062)
• Work Psychology (PC6056)
• Social Psychology (PY7220)

Modules Contributed To

• Social and Cultural Explanations of Behaviour (PC5062)
• Research Projects Supervised
• BSc Research Project (BSc Psychology, PC6P01)
• MSc Research Project (MSc Psychology of Mental Health, PY7PA6)
• MSc Research Project (MSc Psychology Conversion, PY7P11)

Damilola's research broadly focuses on the development and application of social psychological theories to understand and address challenges affecting disadvantaged and minoritised groups. Using qualitative and quantitative research approaches, his work examines social identity processes, intergroup relations and the psychological mechanisms through which prejudice, discrimination and social inequalities are maintained or challenged.

His research interests include African identity, racial and ethnic identities, collective history, identity management strategies, collective political action, social change, intergroup felt understanding, intergroup emotions and prejudice reduction. His work also extends to investigating ethnic inequalities in academic, professional and organisational contexts, with particular interest in understanding the processes that contribute to unequal outcomes and identifying approaches that promote greater equity and inclusion.

His applied research includes work on ethnic disparities in legal professional assessments and, more recently, ethnicity-related pay and progression inequalities within the NHS workforce, through a research collaboration with the University of Surrey for the NHS Race and Health Observatory.

Damilola is a member of the Global Diversities and Inequalities (Interdisciplinary) Research Centre at London Metropolitan University and the World-Making Things (Social Psychology) Research Group at the University of Exeter.

• Elenbaas, L., McGuire, L., Ackerman, A., Kneeskern, E., Kinnard, L., Farooq, A., Law, F., Makanju, D., Ebert, K., & Mistry, R. S. (2024). Social class group identity, intergroup attitudes, and views on social mobility and inequality in the U.K. and the U.S. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy. http://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12431
• Makanju, D., Livingstone, A. G., Sweetman, J., Okafor, C. O., & Attoh, F. (2024). How appraisals of an in-group's collective history shape collective identity and action: Evidence in relation to African identity. PloS one, 19(9), e0308727. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0308727
• Bosch G, Sealy R, Alexandris Polomarkakis K, Makanju D, Helm R (2024). Final report for Solicitors Regulation Authority on the potential causes of differential outcomes in legal professional assessments. Solicitors Regulation Authority. https://www.sra.org.uk/sra/research-publications/potential-causes-differential-outcomes-legal-professional-assessments/
• Bosch G, Sealy R, Alexandris Polomarkakis K, Makanju D, Helm R (2024). Qualitative Interview Insights Report. Report prepared for the research funded by the Solicitors Regulation Authority on the potential causes of differential outcomes in legal professional assessments. Solicitors Regulation Authority. https://www.sra.org.uk/globalassets/documents/sra/research/qualitative-interview-insights-report.pdf?version=49be7f
• Bosch G, Sealy R, Alexandris Polomarkakis K, Makanju D, Helm R (2024). Quantitative Data Insights Report. Report prepared for the research funded by the Solicitors Regulation Authority on the potential causes of differential outcomes in legal professional assessments. Solicitors Regulation Authority. https://www.sra.org.uk/globalassets/documents/sra/research/quantitative-data-insights-report.pdf?version=49be7f
• Livingstone, A. G., Bedford, S. L., Afyouni, A., Vu, N., Kapantai, I., Makanju, D., ... & Tapp, C. (2024). You get us, so you like us: Feeling understood by an outgroup predicts more positive intergroup relations via perceived positive regard. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000434
• Makanju, D., Livingstone, A. G., & Sweetman, J. (2023). How group members appraise collective history: Appraisal dimensions of collective history and their role in in-group engagement. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 11(1), 229-246. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.6355
• Bosch, G., Sealy, R., Alexandris Polomarkakis, K., Makanju, D. & Helm, R.K. (2023). The ethnicity attainment gap in legal professional assessments: A systematic literature review and next steps. Interim report for the Solicitors Regulation Authority. https://www.sra.org.uk/globalassets/documents/sra/research/ethnicity-attainment-gap-legal-professional-assessments-literature-review.pdf?version=49c157
• Livingstone, A. G., Spears, R., Manstead, A. S., Makanju, D., & Sweetman, J. (2023). Dilemmas of resistance: How concerns for cultural aspects of identity shape and constrain resistance among minority groups. European Review of Social Psychology, 1-43. https://doi.org/10.1080/10463283.2023.2176663
• Makanju, D. (2022). When we were kings: The role of appraisals of African history in in-group engagement and intergroup relations (Doctoral thesis). University of Exeter. https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/articles/thesis/When_we_were_kings_The_role_of_appraisals_of_African_history_in_in-group_engagement_and_intergroup_relations/29791289
• Makanju, D., Livingstone, A. G., & Sweetman, J. (2020). Testing the effect of historical representations on collective identity and action. PloS one, 15(4), e0231051. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231051

Damilola co-heads the partnership between London Met and the British Neuroscience Association (BNA) for the BNA's Scholars Programme.