A renowned economist, Prof Oluyele Akinkugbe, has been appointed as the new President and Vice-Chancellor of James Hope University, Lagos. In a statement made available to The Guardian and signed by the Registrar, Dr Achugamonu Uzoma, 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 that 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.