Eka Ikpe

Eka Ikpe
Born	Ekaette Ikpe
Nationality	Nigerian
Education	PhD
Alma mater	University of Leeds School of Oriental and African Studies
Occupation(s)	Academic, Development Economist
Employer	King's College London
Known for	African development, peacebuilding, creative Economies
Title	Professor of Development Economics in Africa
Website	kcl.ac.uk/people/eka-ikpe

Eka Ikpe is a Nigerian academic, creative economist and a professor of Development economics at King's College London. ^{[1] [2]} She is also the Director of the African Leadership Centre at King's College London. ^[1] Her work focuses on structural transformation, peacebuilding, creative economies and development in Africa and the Global South. ^[2]

Education

Ikpe holds a BA in economics from the University of Leeds, MSc in economics (with reference to Africa) from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London and PhD in economics from SOAS, University of London. ^[1]

Career

Ikpe is currently a professor of Economics and the Director of the African Leadership Centre at King's College London. ^[2] She has served as a Reader in Development Economics and is a Global Board Member of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). ^[3]

She was a keynote speaker at the University of Warwick’s “Blood on the Leaves” conference on race, resistance, and memory. ^[4]

Her research interests include,Structural Transformation and Industrial Development in Africa, Peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction, Creative economies and health systems, Gender, security, and Development. ^[2]

She has contributed written evidence to the UK Parliament on mine action and peacebuilding in Africa. ^[5]

She has also made media appearances on BBC World News, Al Jazeera, and Radio France International, contributing expert commentary on African development, peacebuilding, and security issues. ^[6]

Selected Publications

• "Fashion Designers as Lead Firms from Below: Creative Economy, State Capitalism and Internationalization in Lagos and Nairobi". Competition & Change (2024). DOI
• Ikpe, Eka. "Developmentalism and the Political Economy of Peacebuilding in Africa." Africa Development, vol. 48, no. 3, 2023. DOI ^[7]
• "Developmental Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Postindependence Nigeria: Lessons From Asian Developmental States". Journal of Peacebuilding & Development, Vol. 16(3) (2021). DOI ^[8]
• "Transcending the State-Market Dichotomy, Developmentalism and Industrial Change: Learning from Critical African Scholars". Africa Development, Vol. XLVI(3), pp. 21–43 (2021). JSTOR ^[9]
• "Africa Fashion Futures: Creative Economies, Global Networks and Local Development". Geography Compass, Vol. 15(9) (2021). Co-authored with Lauren England, Roberta Comunian, and Ananya Jahanara Kabir. DOI
• "A Means to an Industrialisation End? Demand Side Management in Nigeria". Energy Policy, Vol. 115, pp. 207–215 (2018). DOI
• Ikpe, E. (2017). Structural Transformation and Employment Generation in Nigeria. Africa Development, 42(4), 1–20. JSTOR ^[10]
• "Counting the Development Costs of the Conflict in North-Eastern Nigeria: The Economic Impact of the Boko Haram-led Insurgency". Conflict, Security & Development, Vol. 17(5), pp. 381–409 (2017). DOI
• "The Development Planning Era and Developmental Statehood: The Pursuit of Structural Transformation in Nigeria". Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 41(142), pp. 545–560 (2014). DOI JSTOR ^[11]
• Olonisakin, F., Barnes, K., & Ikpe, E. (2010). Women, Peace and Security: Translating Policy into Practice. International Peacekeeping, 17(2), 188–203. JSTOR ^[12]
• Women, Peace and Security: Translating Policy into Practice, Routledge (2010). Co-authored with Funmi Olonisakin and Karen Barnes (eds.). ISBN 978-0-415-58797-6. JSTOR
• Picciotto, R., Ikpe, E., et al. (2005). Striking a New Balance: Donor Policy Coherence and Development Cooperation in Difficult Environments.

See also

• Njoki Wamai – Kenyan political scientist and scholar of peace and security in Africa
• Awino Okech – Professor of Feminist and Security Studies at SOAS, University of London
• Toyin Ajao – Nigerian scholar and founder of Ìmọ́lẹ̀ of Afrika Centre, focused on restorative healing of intergenerational trauma
• Funmi Olonisakin – Founding Director of the African Leadership Centre and scholar of leadership and peacebuilding in Africa

References

1. "Dr. Ekaette Ikpe — The African Leadership Centre". African Leadership Centre. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
2. "Professor Eka Ikpe". King's College London. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
3. "Ekaette Eka Ikpe". Overseas Development Institute. 2 January 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
4. "Keynote Speakers – Blood on the Leaves". University of Warwick. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
5. "Written evidence submitted by Dr Eka Ikpe and Dr Sarah Njeri (ZAF0023)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
6. "Eka Ikpe". IAI TV. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
7. Ikpe, Eka (2023). "Developmentalism and the Political Economy of Peacebuilding in Africa". Africa Development. 48 (3). doi:10.1177/10245294231222658.
8. Ikpe, Eka (2021). "Developmental Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Postindependence Nigeria". Journal of Peacebuilding & Development. 16 (3). doi:10.1177/1542316620969660.
9. Ikpe, Eka (2021). "Transcending the State–Market Dichotomy, Developmentalism and Industrial Change". Africa Development. 46 (3): 21–43. JSTOR   48630969.
10. Ikpe, Eka (2017). "Structural Transformation and Employment Generation in Nigeria". Africa Development. 42 (4): 1–20. JSTOR   48651735.
11. Ikpe, Eka (2014). "The Development Planning Era and Developmental Statehood". Review of African Political Economy. 41 (142): 545–560. JSTOR   24858266.
12. Ikpe, Eka (2010). "Women, Peace and Security: Translating Policy into Practice". International Peacekeeping. 17 (2): 188–203. JSTOR   24858266.

External links

• King's College London profile
• African Leadership Centre biography
• UK Parliament Evidence
• JSTOR – Africa Development
• JSTOR – International Peacekeeping
• ODI profile