CV
Evolutionary economist and engineer by training, with two decades of research, policy advisory and teaching experience across Nigeria, South Africa and the UK.
PhD in Economics (specialisation in the economics of innovation), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany, 2014 · MSc Technology Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, 2009 · BSc Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, 2003
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2023) · Certified Management & Business Educator, Chartered Association of Business Schools (2023)
Career timeline
Faculty Head of Research Students Training; Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Sustainable Development, De Montfort University
Fellow (Jul–Sep), then Associate Fellow (since Sep), Academy of International Affairs, Bonn, Germany
Senior Lecturer in Business Management, De Montfort University, Leicester
Deputy Director (Research), NACETEM; International Consultant, UNIDO; Visiting International Research Fellow, CeSTII, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town
President, Nigerian Young Academy
Science Advice for Policy Fellowship, US National Science Foundation
Africa-Oxford Visiting Research Grant, University of Oxford
Assistant Chief Research Officer → Assistant Director (Research), NACETEM; Head, Science Policy and Innovation Studies Department (2016–19)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, South African Research Chair Initiative, Tshwane University of Technology
PhD in Economics, Jena; Visiting Researcher, UNU-MERIT, Maastricht
DFG-funded doctoral researcher, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
MSc Technology Management, Obafemi Awolowo University
Research Officer II → Senior Research Officer, National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Nigeria
BSc Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University
Honours & awards
- 2025 Finalist, Africa Evidence Leadership Awards — Evidence Producer Category
- 2025 Best Paper, Enterprise Education Track & Best Paper, SME Growth and Performance Track, ISBE Conference
- 2024 DMU SDG Fellow; Highly Commended, Climate Action Engagement Champion, DMU
- 2023 Best Paper, Inclusive Economies Track, Faculty of Business and Law Research Conference, DMU
- 2019 Science Advice for Policy Fellowship
- 2018 Africa-Oxford Visiting Research Grant; Open Innovation and Technology Best Paper Award
- 2015 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, South African Research Chair Initiative
- 2013–14 DAAD Short-term Fellowship for Foreign PhDs; Visiting Research Fellowship, UNU-MERIT
- 2010–13 German Research Foundation (DFG) Doctoral Research Fellowship
- 2009 Best Course Coordinator, NACETEM
Memberships
Chartered Management Institute (since 2024) · British Academy of Management (since 2023) · IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society (since 2023) · Nigerian Young Academy (since 2017) · Development Studies Association, African Academy of Management, International Schumpeter Society (since 2012) · Entrepreneurship Research Society (since 2014) · Royal Economic Society, American Economic Association (since 2012)
Selected grants
- 2026–28 PROmoting Management and Innovation Scholarship Excellence for Indonesian early career researchers (PROMISE) — British Academy (Co-Investigator)
- 2025–28 Venture to adapt? Entrepreneurship as a coping mechanism for immigrants in the UK — ESRC (Co-Principal Investigator)
- 2025–27 AI-powered CRM solution for a Leicestershire business (KTP) — Innovate UK (Co-Principal Investigator)
- 2024–25 Evaluating the impact of entrepreneurship education on youth entrepreneurship — British Academy (Principal Investigator)
- 2024 The Political Economy of Chinese Investments in Africa — Academy of International Affairs (Principal Investigator)
- 2021–23 Origins of the mammoth: emergence and evolution of large high-growth firms in Nigeria — CEPR/STEG (Principal Investigator)
- 2019–22 Apprenticeship-based entrepreneurship intervention for youth employment in Nigeria — IDRC (Co-Principal Investigator)
- 2017–18 Conflict and private economic activity in sub-Saharan Africa — ESRC (Co-Investigator)
- 2014–16 The Supply of High Quality Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries — CEPR/PEDL (Co-Investigator)