University Don Ifelunini To Speak On ‘Politics And Governance’ At Advocate Newspaper Annual Lecture Series

Renowned development economist, Professor Abanum Innocent Ifelunini of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the second edition of the Advocate Publication Ltd Annual Lecture Series.

Secretary General of the Advocate Publication Lecture Series Board of Council (ALSBC), Mr Shedrack Onitsha, officially announced this on Thursday, in a statement made in Warri, Delta State.

The lecture would hold April 25, 2025, at Wetland Hotel, Ughelli with the theme; “Between Governance and Politics: The Delicate Balancing to Ensure Growth and Development”.

Onitsha said that this year’s lecture aims to stimulate critical conversations on the intersection of governance and politics and how this relationship can be managed to foster sustainable national development.

According to him, “this year’s lecture promises to offer invaluable insights into how governance and politics can be harmonized for national growth. The session is expected to attract scholars, policymakers, civil society leaders, students, and members of the public interested in Nigeria’s development agenda.

Chairman of the ALSBC, Mr Abraham Ogbodo, a veteran journalist and former Editor of The Guardian, expressed confidence in the choice of Professor Ifelunini, describing him as “a leading voice in development economics with extensive academic and practical experience in governance, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.”

Professor Ifelunini brings with him an impressive academic and professional pedigree. An alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he holds a B.Sc (Ed) degree in Economics, alongside a Postgraduate Diploma, M.Sc, and PhD degrees in Development Economics. Currently a Professor at the Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Resource & Environmental Policy Research Centre, Environment for Development Initiative (EfD), Nigeria, he has been an influential figure in the fields of economic policy, governance, and environmental economics since 2013.

His research and professional engagements span collaborations with international and national institutions such as the World Bank, the African Economic Research Consortium, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Geographic Society, and the Swedish International Development Agency. He is currently leading a research grant on Agro Feminization, Climate Smart Agriculture Technology Adoption and Food Security: Evidence from Nigeria Panel Data funded by Akademiya 2063.

In addition to his rich academic background, Professor Ifelunini has served in various capacities, including as Program Specialist at the Central Bank of Nigeria Entrepreneurship Development Centre (South East Nigeria), coordinator of the postgraduate program at UNN’s Department of Economics, and Director of University of Nigeria Transport Route (UNTransroute). He is also an external examiner and professorial assessor for several universities within and outside Nigeria.

Known for his commitment to capacity building and knowledge sharing, Professor Ifelunini has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles, many of which are indexed in Thomson Reuters (Clarivate Analytics) and SCOPUS. He has presented over 30 papers at both local and international conferences, including in Nairobi, Dakar, Johannesburg, and Abidjan.