The Vice-Chancellor of Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan, has described the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) as the backbone of the nation’s economic policy, urging the body to sustain its leadership role in shaping the country’s economic direction.

Olaniyan spoke during a courtesy visit by the executive members of the Oyo State chapter of NES to his office.
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.

Tracing the history of the society, the Vice-Chancellor said the NES has remained central to Nigeria’s economic policy formulation since 1958.

According to him, the country’s first four National Development Plans were prepared largely by economists who were members of the society, while many of Nigeria’s past Ministers of Finance, Economic Planning, and other top economic managers also emerged from its ranks.

“The Nigerian Economic Society is the backbone of Nigerian economic policy. It has been like that since 1958. The first four National Development Plans in this country were prepared by core economists, most of whom belonged to the Nigerian Economic Society,” he said.

Olaniyan recalled that eminent economists and members of the Society, including former Minister of Finance, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, former Minister of Finance and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; former Central Bank Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo; Chief Olu Falae and Samsudeen Usman, had all contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic development.

According to him: “At some point in time, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye who studied Sociology served as Minister of Finance. He was a member of the Nigerian Economic Society. There is a member of the Society who even became a Minister of Health. That is Prof. Eyitayo Lambo”.

He added that, until recently, the President of the Nigerian Economic Society served as an ex-officio member of the National Economic Council, underscoring the strategic role the society has played in national policy formulation.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the society’s annual conference has remained one of the country’s largest gatherings of economists and policymakers, attracting between 2,000 and 5,000 participants annually to deliberate on critical economic issues.

He also advocated the revival of the Committee of Heads of Departments of Economics (COHED), describing it as an important platform for harmonising Economics curricula and maintaining academic standards across tertiary institutions.

“Economists are everywhere—universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, government ministries, planning agencies and the private sector. Their contributions to national development cannot be overemphasised. Economics cuts across every sector,” he said.

Olaniyan assured the delegation of the university’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the society.
He disclosed that the institution would encourage its Economics lecturers, graduating students of Economics and Economics of Education, as well as students in allied disciplines, to become members of the Nigerian Economic 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 participate actively.
“Many of our lecturers will attend the society’s annual conference. We are looking forward to the event with excitement,” he added.

Earlier, the Acting Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the Society, Prof. Okuwa, said the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the society and the university.
She explained that the society is building on the initiative of its immediate past national president, Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, to induct graduating Economics students into the professional body.

“We are here to discuss how to move the society forward. We want your graduating Economics and allied course students, as well as your lecturers, to become members of the society.

“We are also inviting your lecturers to participate in our annual conference in September and seeking collaboration in research and the promotion of economic development in Oyo State and Nigeria at large,” she said.

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.