A National Dialogue on the State of the Nigerian Economy featuring an array of distinguished professors as speakers, holds on Friday, June 26, 2026 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Slated to hold at the Multipurpose Hall, University of Uyo, the dialogue is being convened by the organizers to celebrate the 72nd birthday of renowned Scholar of Economics and Public Policy, Prof Akpan Hogan Ekpo, who will also deliver the keynote address at the event.

Apart from the keynote speaker, six other discussants will also focus on different areas of the country’s economy. Prof Chikanele Asuru will discuss “Monetary and Physical Issues, Labour Market Performance, Poverty and Inequality, 2015 to Date”. Prof Emmanuel Onwioduokit will also speak on “Nigerian Debt Profile and Management 2015 to Date” while Prof Trenchard O. Ibia will talk on “Food Security in Nigeria: Highlights of the State of Agriculture and the Imperatives for Action”.

Other speakers scheduled to lighten up the event include Prof Isongesit Solomon who will discuss “Agriculture: Livestock in Perspective”. Prof Etim Frank will also be speaking on “Governance Since 2015 and Growth Trajectory till Date” with Prof Ndubuisi Nwokoma rounding up with a discourse on “Manufacturing and Industrial Output: From 2015 to Date”.

According to the Organizers, The Prof Akpan Ekpo Centre For Public Policy, there will also be brief remarks by the Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Prof Christopher N. Ekong, Chairman of the event and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) University of Uyo, Prof Enobong Ikpeme and Chairman of the Centre, Dr Effiong E. Inyang.

The event will also feature a book presentation by Prof Effiong Johnson. Titled, “Misunderstanding With The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) As VC University of Uyo, (including Current Challenges)”, the 145 page book authored by the birthday celebrant, Prof Akpan Ekpo, is published by the University of Lagos Press.

The birthday event will be rounded up with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, June 28th, 2026 at The External House of Glory Church, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo.

A former Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Prof Akpan Ekpo was appointed Emeritus Professor of the University on September 25th, 2024.

Currently chairman of the Foundation for Economic Research and Training (FERT), Lagos, Ekpo who was born in June 26, 1954, was also director general, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Lagos between May 2009-December 2018. He was also pioneer Vice Chancellor, Akwa Ibom University of Technology and a former director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

After his secondary education at the United Christian Secondary School, Apapa, Lagos in 1969, Ekpo received a Federal Government scholarship to study in the United States of America. He graduated from Howard University, Washington in 1976 with a Bachelor’s degree (Cum laude with honours) in Economics and obtained a Masters in Economics from the same university.

To underscore his brilliance, he was on the Dean’s List of the university throughout his undergraduate studies and on full scholarship based on his academic performance.

In 1975 as the best and honours student, he won the American Economic Association Fellowship to study briefly at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. In 1980 and 1983, he bagged the MA and PhD degrees in Economics from the University of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

His areas of specialization include Economic Theory (Microeconomics and Macroeconomics), Economic Development and Public Finance. He has attended refresher courses at the World Bank Development Institute, Northwestern University and Harvard University. He has also lectured in Universities in the USA, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.

Professor Ekpo has published extensively in his areas of specialization in national and international journals and has consulted for several national and international organizations. He was the first occupier of Chief Anthony Ani Chair, Professor of Public Finance. He has over 160 publications comprising refereed journal articles, books, chapters in books, conference proceedings and other research outlets. He has also attended over 90 national and international conferences and has presented papers in most of them.

In his Valedictory Lecture delivered at the University of Uyo in June 2024 titled, “NIGERIA: THE ECONOMICS OF POTENTIALS AND THE POTENTIALS IN ECONOMICS”, Ekpo whose works are published in several publications, books and journals, argued that, “A country can be experiencing high growth rates yet 80-85% of her citizens cannot provide or have access to the basic necessities of life. Hence, development goes beyond high growth rates to include structural changes, freedom as well as closing the inequality gap.”

His epic work, titled “Nigeria: A Resource Rich Economy In Disarray” is a 402 page book published by the UNILAG Press. An Editor of the Prestigious Nigerian Journal of Economic and Social Studies from 1997 – 2003, Ekpo has served in various government boards and boards of companies.

Ekpo is a member of the following Organizations:

American Economic Association, USA., Royal Economic Society, England, National Economic Association, USA., Nigerian Economic Society,

West African Economic Association, Nigerian Political Science Association, Nigerian Statistical Association, East and South African Economic Association, Nigerian Society for International Affairs, International Institute of Public Finance, Germany, and African Finance and Economic Association.

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