The Oyo State chapter of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) has sought a strategic partnership with Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, to promote research, professional development and economic policy advocacy.
The request was made during a courtesy visit by the executive members of the society to the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan.
The delegation was led by the Acting Chairman of the society, Prof. Oluwakemi Bolaji Okuwa. Other members included the Financial Secretary, Dr. Florence Oyebamiji; the Public Relations Officer, Rotimi Agboluaje; Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Dr. Samuel Ochinyabo; and Research Fellow I at NISER, Dr. Sebil Oshota.
Speaking during the visit, Okuwa said the society was committed to strengthening collaboration with tertiary institutions to advance economics education and contribute to national development through research and policy engagement.
She explained that the visit formed part of efforts to build on the legacy of the immediate past President of the Nigerian Economic Society, Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, particularly the initiative to induct graduating Economics students into the professional body.
“We are here to pay you a courtesy visit and discuss how to move the society forward. We are building on the foundation laid by the immediate past president of inducting graduating Economics students into the society.
“We want your graduating Economics and allied course students, as well as Economics lecturers, to become members of the society. We are also here to inform you about our annual conference coming up in September and to encourage your lecturers to participate.
“We also seek collaboration in research and the promotion of economic development in Oyo State and the country at large,” she said.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor welcomed the initiative and reiterated the university’s commitment to partnering with the society.
Olaniyan described the Nigerian Economic Society as a key institution in Nigeria’s economic development, noting that it had consistently contributed to policy formulation and the production of leading economic managers since its establishment in 1958.
He pledged that the university would encourage its Economics lecturers, graduating students of Economics and Economics of Education, as well as students in allied disciplines, to register as members of the society.
“Our lecturers, graduating B.Sc. Economics and Economics of Education students will become members of the society. We believe in the Nigerian Economic Society, and we will encourage our students to be part of it.
“Since we started, we have built a strong Department of Economics with committed and well-trained lecturers. We will ensure that our lecturers register with the society, and many of them will participate in the annual conference,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor also stressed the need for the Nigerian Economic Society to sustain its role in advancing sound economic policies and promoting professional excellence among economists.
Those who received the delegation alongside the Vice-Chancellor included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Dr. Sikiru Morakinyo Raheem; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Ibrahim Olatunde Salawu; University Librarian, Dr. Olatundun Oyewumi; Sub-Dean, School of Social Science Education, Prof. Oyewole Lambe; Head of the Department of Economics, Dr. Solomon Tunde Ogunbunmi; and President of the Nigerian Economics Students’ Association (NESA) in the institution, Boluwatife Adeogun.
