OAU Don Emerges Best Economist In Nigeria •As Makinde’s Chief Economic Adviser, Babatunde, Ranks Number 15 Among Top 20

Abayomi A. Adebayo, a Professor of Economics from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State, emerged the most productive Nigerian researcher in Economics in the 2021 AD Scientific Index Ranking of Economists.

This is as Professor Musibau Adetunji Babarinde, the Chief Economic Adviser to the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, emerged as Number 15 among the top 20 economists/accountants in the country.

Reacting to a congratulatory message from the Newscoven.ng on the achievement, Professor Babatunde from the University of Ibadan thanked God for the feat, adding that his best is yet to come.

“We thank God. I have not had time to publish any academic paper in the last three years due to the present office and official engagement. The best is yet to come…,” he said in a short message.

Professor Adebayo, who has all his degrees from the same university has H-index of 25 and i10-index of 46, to become one of the three economics dons that are among the best 200 researchers in Nigeria.

The other two are Uwuigbe Uwalomwa and Akinlo Anthony Enisan who are from Redeemers’ University and Covenant University, respectively.

Interestingly, Professor Enisan, who is the current Vice Chancellor of Redeemer’s University is also a Professor of Economics.

The Nigerian Economics Ranking 2021 also produced a full list of the top 20 economists/accountants in Nigeria, including: 1. Abayomi Adebayo (OAU); 2.  Uwuigbe Uwalomwa (Covenant); 3. Akinlo Anthony Enisan (Redeemers’); 4. Chukwuma Charles Soludo (University of Nigeria, Nsukka);

5. S. A. Yusuf (University of Ibadan); 6. Onakoya Adegbemi Babatunde (Babcock University); 7. Adeola Festus Adenikinju (University of Ibadan); 8. Olopade Bosede Comfort (Adeleke University); 9.  Lawal Adedoyin Isola (Landmark University);

10. Ogundipe Adeyemi (Covenant University); 11. Lukman Raimi (American University of Nigeria); 12. Olanrewaju Olaniyan (University of Ibadan); 13. Babajide Ayopo Abiola (Covenant University); 14. Joel Babalola (University of Ibadan); 15. Musibau Adetunji Babatunde (University of Ibadan);

16. Fidelis Obioma Ogwumike (University of Ibadan); 17. Uwuigbe Olubukola Ranti (Covenant University); 18. Adelowokan Oluwaseyi Adedayo (Olabisi Onabanjo University); 19. Matthew Augustina Oluwatoyin (Covenant University) and 20. Alege Philip (Covenant University).

“One interesting discovery from the list is that Covenant University has the joint highest number of scientists (six) with the University of Ibadan in this top flight.

“It is also worthy of note that the only three women among the best economists in Nigeria are from private universities.

“One of them (Olopade Bosede Comfort) is from Adeleke University while the other two (Babajide Ayopo Abiola and Matthew Augustina Oluwatoyin) are from Covenant University.

“It is also worthy of note that academics in private universities dominate this list. There are 11 dons from private universities, leaving only eight places for federal and one for state universities.

“The dominance of private university dons is an indication of the level of funding that these universities give to academic research. Our government universities should also step up and provide sufficient funding for economic research. This will go a long way to raise our economy.”