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A national dialogue on the state of the Nigerian economy will hold in Uyo to honour Prof Akpan Ekpo, the renowned economist and public policy scholar, as he marks his 72nd birthday. The event gathers leading academics to debate the country’s most pressing economic questions while celebrating one of Nigeria’s most respected economic voices.
The dialogue is scheduled to take place at the University of Uyo, where Ekpo once served as Vice Chancellor, with the celebrant himself set to deliver the keynote address.
Who is Akpan Ekpo
Prof Akpan Hogan Ekpo is a respected scholar of economics and public policy with decades of influence on national debates. A former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, he was later honoured as an Emeritus Professor of the institution. He also served as pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Akwa Ibom State University of Technology.
Ekpo currently chairs the Foundation for Economic Research and Training (FERT) in Lagos and previously served as a director at the Central Bank of Nigeria. His career bridges the worlds of academia, policy and central banking, giving his views particular weight in economic circles.
What the Nigerian economy dialogue will cover
The gathering brings together several distinguished professors to examine different aspects of the economy. Discussants are billed to tackle subjects ranging from monetary and fiscal issues to the performance of the labour market, poverty and inequality over the past decade. Others will focus on Nigeria’s debt profile and how it has been managed.
By framing the discussion around the years leading up to today, the speakers aim to assess what has worked, what has failed and what reforms the country needs. The format encourages frank, evidence-based debate rather than political point-scoring.
Why the conversation is timely
Nigeria is wrestling with high inflation, pressure on the naira, rising debt-service costs and stubborn poverty. Households feel the squeeze through expensive food, fuel and transport, while businesses battle high borrowing costs. Against that backdrop, a sober conversation among seasoned economists offers a chance to cut through noise and focus on solutions.
Events like this also keep economic literacy alive, reminding policymakers and the public that data and rigorous analysis should guide decisions. The presence of veteran scholars adds historical perspective on reforms that have been tried before.
A tribute to a lifetime of service
Beyond the policy debate, the dialogue is a tribute to Ekpo’s long service to Nigerian scholarship. Colleagues, former students and admirers are expected to use the occasion to celebrate his mentorship and contributions to economic thought. A thanksgiving service is also planned to round off the birthday celebrations.
For younger economists, such gatherings provide a rare chance to learn directly from a generation that helped shape Nigeria’s economic discourse. The hope is that the ideas shared will feed into practical recommendations for the country’s leaders.
Organisers say they hope the outcomes will not stay locked in academic papers. They want the recommendations packaged for policymakers, so that the debate translates into concrete steps on jobs, debt management and inclusive growth that ordinary Nigerians can feel.
As Nigeria searches for a path to stable, inclusive growth, the voices gathered in Uyo will be hoping their honest assessment helps point the way forward.
