By Victor Nwokocha
President of the Literary Authors Cooperative Society of Nigeria (LITACO) and Founder of the Awele Ilusanmi Foundation, Dr. Awele Ilusanmi has made history becoming the first Nigerian woman to be appointed as Assistant Editor, Journal of Human Services, Training, Research and Practice (JHS:TRP), Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas, USA.
Initiated in 2014 by the Department of Human Services, SFASU under the Chairmanship of Dr. Robbie Steward, and published twice a year since 2016, JHS:TRP is an online peer-reviewed Journal that publishes book reviews and articles based on research, theory development, case studies or program and intervention applications.
Its mission is ‘to provide practitioners and educators with an authoritative forum to report data that substantiate current practices or raise questions about mainstream thinking in education and service delivery, within disciplines in Human Services such as Education Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, Leadership in Higher Education, Rehabilitation Services, Religion and Spirituality, Speech and Language Pathology, Military Sciences and Lifestyle’ among others.
From the journal’s performance metrics over the years, including its indexing in DOAJ and Google Scholar, its citation count, publication speed, open access status, readership and general impact, it is undoubtedly one of the most credible and influential international journals in contemporary times. Dr. Ilusanmi’s appointment signifies the journal’s commitment to accommodating new global perspectives in its focal areas, as well as strengthening the values of diversity.
Awele Ilusanmi, popularly known as ‘Queen of Books’, is a distinguished Nigerian author and multiple award-winner, celebrated for her invaluable support and contributions to the Nigerian literary community. Many young authors dedicate their success stories to the credit of her selfless support.
A Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and member, Board of Trustees, Trinity Writers and Publishers Network, she holds a Master’s degree in Publishing Studies from the Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas, USA, where she is currently pursuing a PhD program in the School of Psychology and Health Service.
In May, 2026 she received an international award in Tanzania as one of the 100 Reputable Women of African Descent, presented in recognition of her “exceptional leadership, integrity and character while making significant contributions to her community and industry and being a beacon of hope, torchbearer of change and a pillar of strength”.
Also in the same month, she was appointed Vice-President of the African Woman Summit, USA, further underscoring the growing international recognition of her roles in promoting human development at various levels. She is listed in the exclusive 100 Prudent Women Compendium, and honoured as a Laureate of Enterprise, Growth and Organizational Leadership
Currently working to secure foreign rights deals for Nigerian Authors, to ensure global book positioning, optimal visibility and rewarding deals for authors, Dr. Ilusanmi recently introduced the ‘Naija Nationwide Author of the Month’ Project aimed at promoting reading, celebrating Nigeria’s unsung storytellers and uniting readers nationwide.
She strongly believes, in her own words, that “When we see the possibilities and commit to promoting a reading culture, great things happen and lives change for the better.”
