Director general of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) Baba Musa has been elected as the 45th president of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES).
Mr Musa’s election was one of the outcomes of the 66th annual conference of the NES, which ended in Abuja on Thursday.
He takes over from Adeola Adenikinju, whose two-year tenure ended at the conference.
The event was declared open by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday.
The secretary to the government of the federation, senator George Akume, chaired the opening, while 2024 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, James Robinson, was among the speakers.
In his acceptance speech, Musa said the NES would embark on a collaborative process to develop a new strategic plan anchored on four pillars, evidence-based advocacy, youth and capacity building, driving research and innovation through data and fostering partnerships.
He said the society would establish a policy advocacy and engagement committee to produce quarterly policy briefs, structured dialogue and state-level impact through direct engagement with state governments.
According to Musa, NES will also launch initiatives such as the NextGen Economists Programme, National Economic Debating Championship and a digital learning hub to build young talent.
Other plans include creating a National Economic Data Portal, an annual research grant and rebooting the Nigeria Journal of Economic and Social Studies.
Musa noted that partnerships with the private sector would be prioritised to drive innovation and job creation, while the media would be supported to improve economic reporting.
Other members elected into the 2025–2027 NES council include Aliyu Sanusi (Vice President I), Emeka Osuji (Vice President II), Victor Akidi (National Secretary), Ekesiobi Sylvester (Assistant Secretary), Abiodun Folawewo (Editor), Evans Osabuohien (Assistant Editor), Mohammed Yelwa (Assistant Editor), Ekundayo Mesagan (Assistant Editor), Idris M. Idris (Business Manager), Oluwafemi Adeboje (Publicity Secretary) and Jeremiah Dandaura (Internal Auditor).
Adenikinju, Uche Uwaleke, Amaka Metu and Salamatu Isa were elected ex-officio members.
Baba Musa, an economist and public finance expert, is currently WAIFEM’s director general.
He previously served at the Central Bank of Nigeria for over two decades and held various roles at WAIFEM, including director of fiscal policy, debt management and regional integration between 2011 and 2018.
