Our Faculty and Department

A BRIEF HISTORY  OF DEPARTMENT ECONOMICS

In 1975, the School of Vocational and Business Studies first established the  Department of Economics, with Dr. Agom Eze serving as the first Head of  Department (HOD). In 1976, the introduction of the degree program led to the  department's transition to the newly created School of Social Sciences, with Dr. M.  W. Onwuka serving as the HOD. Under his leadership, the department grew  significantly, sending two of its pioneer lecturers, Mr. E. O. Akata and Mr. N. U.  Onwukwe, abroad for further studies. Mr. Akata returned with an M.Sc. from the  Institute of Social Science in the Netherlands, while Mr. Onwukwe completed his  M.Sc. at Bradford University. Both brought back fresh ideas and advanced  teaching techniques, enhancing the delivery of economics education in the  department. 

 

In 1995, the department moved to its current location in Shell Camp, with Dr. E.  O. Akata as the HOD and Dr. Ebomuche as the Exam Officer. At that time, the teaching staff included Mr. Onyewuchi, an American-trained economist, along with Dr. Agatha Ndugbu and Dr. Asoluka Njoku. Later, additional staff members joined, including Dr. Ebomuche, N.C., Mr. Ezeonye, R.C., Mr. Nwanne, C.C., and  Mr. Nwaru. 

The department underwent a significant transformation in 2001 under the leadership of Dr. Asoluka Njoku, who introduced a focus on quantitative techniques in economic training. This shift led to the expansion of departmental  facilities and staff training in econometric modeling. During this period, several  new lecturers joined, including Dr. Akunya, L.I., Dr. Uwazie, I.U., the late  Ihekweme, S.C., Dr. Ihugba, O., and Dr. Okonkwo, O.N. 

From 2005 onwards, the department saw a series of leadership transitions. Dr.  Ebomuche  took over as HOD in 2005-2006, followed by Dr. A.C. Njoku in 2007. 

Dr. Ebomuche returned as HOD in 2008, succeeded by Mr. R.C. Ezeonye (2009- 2010), Dr. Uwazie, I.U. (2010-2012), and Dr. L.I. Akunya (2012-2014). Mr. Alex  Odii led the department from 2015 to 2017, followed by Dr. Osmond Okonkwo in  2017. Dr. Okezie Ihugba then served as HOD from 2018 to 2021, after which Mr.  C.C. Nwanne led the department from April 2021 to January 2023. Since then, Dr.  Okezie A. Ihugba has resumed his role as HOD. 

The department currently has a strong faculty of 32 lecturers, 15 of whom hold  Ph.Ds, with 10 more lecturers nearing completion of their Ph.D. theses. Over the  years, the department has produced numerous graduates who contribute to society  in various sectors, particularly in education. However, a challenge the department  encounters is that the labour market often does not immediately recognize its  graduates as department products, instead referring to them as graduates of the  University of Nigeria Nsukka.

VISION STATEMENT

To cultivate a world where economic principles are leveraged to foster equitable prosperity, empower communities, and sustainably enhance the well-being of individuals, businesses, and nations, while envisioning a future where education economics serves as a catalyst for transformative change, ensuring every individual has access to quality education, and where educational investments drive social mobility, economic growth, and global competitiveness.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to foster critical inquiry, analytical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration in economics, equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of economic principles. We promote evidence-based decision-making, ethical leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity and responsible citizenship.