A renowned economist, Prof Oluyele Akinkugbe, has been appointed as the new President and Vice-Chancellor of James Hope University, Lagos, effective February 16.
According to a statement made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday, the appointment was approved by the university’s Board of Trustees.
The statement described the appointment as a homecoming, as Akinkugbe had served as a founding Dean of the university.
“This appointment marks a historic homecoming for the renowned economist and academic leader, who returns to lead the institution he helped build from the ground up as its Founding Dean,” the statement read.
The board noted Akinkugbe’s leadership philosophy has remained “centred on sustainable governance, financial resilience, faculty development, and deep community engagement,” adding that his return comes at a time when the university is “poised to expand its influence, attract world-class talent, and deliver education that is globally competitive yet deeply rooted in the Nigerian and African context.”
Before his appointment, he was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Kigali and recognised for advancing the institution’s strategic growth and global positioning.
Akinkugbe, an applied econometrician with over four decades of experience in teaching, research, policy advisory and university administration across Africa, Europe, North America and Southeast Asia, is expected to steer the Lagos-based business school into what the board described as “its next chapter of growth and distinction.”
The statement noted that his academic foundation is rooted in rigorous quantitative analysis and practical policy application.
“He holds a doctorate in Applied Econometrics from the University of Ibadan, where his doctoral thesis developed a 197-equation macroeconomic model of the Nigerian economy under the Ford Foundation-sponsored LINK Project, a global economic modelling consortium.
“Over the years, he has held senior academic and leadership positions across several institutions. He served as Dean of the largest faculty at the University of Namibia, overseeing more than 10,000 students and about 70 faculty and staff, and as Head of Economics at the University of the Witwatersrand,” the statement read.
Beyond academia, Akinkugbe has served as a consultant and adviser to several multilateral institutions, including the World Trade Organisation, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, among others.
Following his appointment, the new vice-chancellor said he will focus on four strategic priorities: deepening academic excellence and innovation; expanding global partnerships; strengthening institutional sustainability; and broadening access to ensure the university remains “a catalyst for Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation.”
James Hope University, founded by Jim Ovia, Chairman of Zenith Bank, offers postgraduate programmes including the Executive MBA, MBA, and specialised MSc degrees in Finance, Fintech & Analytics, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development & Policy Analysis.
