About the Department

The Department of Economics was founded in 1962 as one of the foundation Departments of the University. The Department was initially awarding B.Sc. Social Sciences degree but this was later changed to B.Sc. degree in Economics. Also, consequent on growth in number of staff and facilities, the Department now runs Master of Science and Ph.D. in Economics.

The Department has grown over the years to become the largest in the Faculty of social Sciences and one of the largest in the University. As at 2016/2017 session there are twenty nine members of Academic Staff with twelve in the Professorial cadre, six Senior Lecturers, eight Lecturers I, and three Assistant Lecturers.

The non-teaching staff members are seven in all, made up of a Chief Confidential Secretary, two Chief typists, two Asst. Chief Clerical Officers, one Secretarial Assistant and one Senior Office Assistant. Student enrolment has grown through the years to 626 students in 2016/2017 session and the Department services many other Departments all over the University. The Curriculum has been revised over the years in line with the dictates of the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) and the needs of national and international economies. For instance, the Department has introduced new courses which include Human Resource Economics, Transport Economics and Urban Economics.

Our students have been doing very well in all sectors of the national economy especially the financial sectors where many of them occupy topmost positions. Lecturer in the Department have been performing excellently and attending national and international conferences and seminars. It is noteworthy that two lecturers of the Department who coordinated the Students-In-Free-Enterprise (SIFE) have led the group to win the first position in a national competition. As a result of this feat they represented the country in the United States of America at the International Competition in October, 2007 and placed third internationally.

The First Bank of Nigeria has donated a multipurpose building consisting of a lecture hall and lecturers’ offices for the Department in 2011. This has added to facility capacity of the Department. Finally, the department has introduced Postgraduate diploma in Economics for graduates who have never studied Economics and a Professional Masters degree in Economics. Beside, the Departmental Master of Philosophy programme has been reviewed and approved by the University senate.

The Head,
Department of Economics,
Room 112, Faculty of Social Sciences,
Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Email: ecn@oauife.edu.ng

PROGRAMMES

UNDERGRADUATE

Admission into the Department of Economics for undergraduate programmes is through Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Examinations or such other concessional examinations that the University may operate, in addition to what the University has established as ’prima facie’ requirements for entry into the Faculty of Social Sciences. Candidates for the B.Sc. degree programmes must have a Senior Secondary School Certificate or General Certificate of Education or their equivalents with at least five credits, including English, Mathematics Economics and Government in not more than two sittings.

The Department also admits through Direct Entry. Direct Entry candidates must: (i) satisfy the admission requirements for admission to the University as specified above; and (ii) possess five credit passes in the General Certificate of Education or its equivalent of which at least two shall be at the advanced level, or five credit passes of which at least three shall be at the advanced level, provided such passes are not counted at both levels of the examinations, or (iii) Hold diploma/higher national diploma in Statistics provided such programme is credible and based in reputable institutions.

The duration of undergraduate programmes is normally 8 semesters for regular and 6 semesters for Direct Entry. Further information on our undergraduate programmes are available in our Departmental Handbook.

POSTGRADUATE

An Applicant for Master’s Degree (M.Sc.) shall normally possess not lower than Second Class (Upper Division) Honours Degree of the Obafemi Awolowo University or any other approved University. An applicant for admission to the M.Phil. and Ph.D. Degree programmes shall be a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University or any other approved University who possesses a Master’s Degree with research thesis and a weighted coursework average which shall normally be not less than 60% (B+) for Ph.D. and weighted coursework average which shall not be less than 50%(B) for M.Phil. In addition, ALL Candidates should please note that in accordance with the University regulations, they must satisfy the O’ Level requirements for matriculation into first degree programmes of the Department, i.e. Five Credit passes at not more than two sittings including English Language, Mathematics Economics and Government.

Further information can be obtained from our Departmental Handbook.