Ð԰ɵç̨

I am the Institute Head of Research Students (AFE), teach and conduct research in the broad area of macroeconomics, economics of institutions and policy, central bank and financial markets, business economics, and the informal economy. I hold a PhD in Economics (the informal economy), an MSc in Economics & Finance (Distinction) from the Nottingham Business School, NTU, United Kingdom, and a BSc in Banking & Finance from the University of Benin. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and a Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE). I have extensive experience in programme leadership, curriculum design, modules and programme validation. Further, I am an external examiner to two UK universities, the Track Chair, AABD Track on the Informal Economy and Entrepreneurship, an Editorial Board Member with JAB, and a Reviewer for top journals and funders. I am research active, currently supervise five PhD students, and open to accepting potential students in my area of interest. Before joining Ð԰ɵç̨ in 2020, I was the programme lead, Economics in University of Northampton, and having put in a number of years in the banking industry, my work experience spans beyond the academia. 

The Institute for Responsible Business and Social Justice

Articles:

• Igudia, E., Ackrill, R. and Machokoto, M. (2022) Institutional incongruence, the everyday, and the persistence of street vending in Lagos: a demand-side perspective, Environment & Planning A: Economy and Space, 54(6), 1256-1276.

• Ackrill, R. and Igudia, E. (2023). Analysing the Informal Economy: data challenges, research transparency and methodological plurality; Review of Development Economics. 28(4), 1971-1993. (Top Viewed Article).

• Igudia, E. (2020). Exploring the theories, determinants and policy-options of street vending: a demand-side approach, Urban Studies, 57 (1), 56-73.. 2020 best article nominee -

• Alateyyat, S.K., Jaaron, A.M., and Igudia, E. (2024) Unveiling the status of TQM-performance link in the private, public, and third sectors: a systematic review. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 35, 9-10, 938-970. .

• Alfaouri, M., Jaaron, A.M., and Igudia, E. (2025) Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management Challenges in Developing Countries: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of African Business, (Online First: July 17, 2025), 1-44. Available at:   

• Ackrill, R., Igudia, E., Olusanya, O., and Oyalowo, B (2023). Street Level Bureaucrats, Policy Entrepreneurship, and the Challenge of Enforcing Bans on Motorcycle Taxis in Lagos, Nigeria. European Policy Analysis, 9(4), 440-464.   

• Igudia, E. and Cartwright, E. (2023). The case for mixed methods research: Embracing Qualitative Research to Understand the (Informal) Economy; Review of Development Economics, 28(4), 1947-1970.

• Machokoto, M., Lemma, T., Dsouli, O., Fakoussa, R., and Igudia, E. (2023). Coupling men-to-women: Promoting innovation in emerging markets. International Journal of Finance and Economics, 29(3), 3656-3677.    

• Mutiganda, J.C., Skoog, M. & Igudia, E. (2023). Understanding the process of improving accessibility and affordability of inter-municipal bus transport system. Eur. Transp. Res. Rev. 15, 24 (2023).

• Igudia, E., Uba, C., and Oshinowo, B. (2022). Understanding small business entrepreneurial activity in the Nigerian bottom of the pyramid (BoP) and the informal economy, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 46(3), 353-375, DOI: 

• Igudia, E., Ackrill, R., Coleman, S. and Dobson, C. (2016) International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. 28:2/3, 154-177. DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2016.076643 

• Igudia, E., Ackrill, R., Coleman, S. and Dobson, C. (2015) Determinants of the informal economy of an emerging economy: a multiple indicator, multiple causes (MIMIC) approach. The 8th International Conference for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Development, P.384-402

• Book Chapter

• Egbetokun, A., Igudia, E. and Atta-Ankomah, R. (2025). Effective public policy and governance: A practice-oriented analysis of successes and lessons learned in African Contexts. In: G. Onyango and I. Jamil (eds). Routledge Handbook of Public Policy in the Global South. London: Routledge, pp.313-328.

• Policy Report, Impact and Engagement

• Igudia, E., Ackrill, R., Olusanya, O., and Oyalowo, B (2023). Inclusive poverty reduction: In search of a policy framework to support individuals operating in the informal economy in Lagos, Nigeria. Policy Document Submitted to Lagos State Government.

• Igudia, E., Dalziel, N. and Cartwright, E (2023). Debt and Financial literacy in Leicester, policy paper.

• Cartwright, E., Igudia, E., Kahyalar, N. and Le, N. (2022). The future of the workforce in Leicestershire. Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.

• Contribution to Economic Network:

• https://economicsnetwork.ac.uk/showcase/igudia_employability

  Research Grants

• 2024-2025: £21,079.17 The Academy of Medical Sciences. Award Reference: NGR1\1771 ‘promoting innovation ecosystems in the informal sector, decent work and inclusive growth in LDCs
• 2024-2025: £12,477.29 International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF): IG.0168.02.02 “Setting-up a stakeholders forum (SF) for inclusive policy in the informal economy and inclusive growth in Nigeria” REF impact case study
• 2021-2023: British Academy research grant (Humanities and Social Sciences Tackling Global Challenge: £49, 609). Award Reference: TGC\200070.
• 2023: £10,000 Leicester City Anti-Poverty Research Grant; 2022: £6,000 MSE Charity Grant.
• 2021 October-2022 March: British Academy research grant (£9638). Award Reference: PPHE210175
• 2021/22: £1500; 2020/21: £948.34; 2018/19: £2,000 ‘street vending in Lagos, Nigeria’; 2017/18: URB@N Research Scheme: £500 to conduct research on enhancing economic students’ NSS

My area of research is the informal economy and its broad intersection with economic development, poverty reduction, climate change, migration, inclusive policy and growth. I am also interested in the role institutions in economic growth, debt, in-work povertyand financial literacy.

Economics, Banking & Finance, Accounting and Finance, and Business.

• 24 July 2015 – PhD Confirmation
• October 1, 2011 to May 29, 2014: Nottingham Business School, NTU – PhD.
• September 2009 to November 2010: Nottingham Business School, NTU - MSc Economics and Finance (Distinction).

UG: (1) (Open economy) Macroeconomics, (2) International Development, (3) Economic Institutions & Policy, (4) Central Banks & Financial Markets (5) Current Debate in Economic Policy, (6) Intermediate Macroeconomics, (7) Career in Economics module, (8) Introduction to Economics (9) Business Economics for Accounting and Business students.

PG: (1) Director, Postgraduate Dissertation (2) Advanced Macroeconomics (3) Methods & Quantitative Seminars for PhD students (4) Methods & Data Analysis Seminars for DBA students (5) Managerial Economics

Member, AABD membership committee

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), November 2016 to date.
Member, Academy of African Business and Development (AABD)

• Principal investigator (PI) of a British Academy funded project: Inclusive poverty reduction: in search of a policy framework to support individuals operating in the informal economy in Lagos, Nigeria. 2021-2023
• Poverty reduction and debt management in Leicester (ongoing)
• Informal economy and inclusive growth in the Global South (ongoing)

Conferences papers:

• Igudia, E., Ackrill, R., Oyalowo, B., and Olusanya, O. (2024). To organise or not to organise: lessons from female street vendors operating in the informal economy in Lagos, Nigeria. ILPC Conference, Gottingen, Germany.

• Igudia, E., Ackrill, R., Oyalowo, B., and Olusanya, O. (2024). The role of Stakeholder Engagement and Participation in Sustainable Development – a case study of the Lagos state informal economy. AABD Conference, Washburn University, Tapeka, Kansas, USA

• Igudia, E. (2014). “Austerity measures or entrepreneurial development? The case of the Nigerian informal economy”, Staff Working Paper, DP in Economics No. 2014/1

• Igudia, E., Ackrill, R. and Webb, J. (2023). No venture, no success– theorising business start-ups and longevity in Nigeria, Capitalism and Informality Conference, Ohio University, Athens, Menard Family George Washington Forum, Baker Centre. April 14-15 

• Ackrill, R. and Igudia, E. (2023). You say ‘self-interest’ is buried, but I say you can’t ignore its ghost – evidence Lagos, Nigeria study. Capitalism and Informality Conference, Ohio University, Athens, MFGWF, April.

• Igudia, E., Ackrill, R., Oyalowo, B., and Olusanya, O. (2023). In search of sustainable development in Africa – the role of consistent, forward-looking policy 23^rd Academy of African Business and Development (AABD) Annual Conference, May 16-20, 2023

• Ackrill, R. and Igudia, E. (2023). Proactive vs. Reactive Policy Entrepreneurship Among Public Servants: A Network Approach. Conference on Public Policy Research (COPR), University of Colorado Denver, January 12 – 14.

• Oyalowo, B., Olusanya, O. Igudia, E. and Ackrill, R. (2022). Between Modernisation, Rights & Responsibilities: Lagos Informal Sector Policy through a Political Settlement Lens, 16th Annual International Conference on Global Studies, 19-22 December, 2022, Athens, Greece, available:  

• Igudia, E. 16-19 May, 2018. IAABD conference, South Africa, ‘Exploring the theories, determinants and policy-options of street vending: a demand-side approach’  

• 4-6 April, 2017. International labour process conference (ILPC), Sheffield, UK. ‘The role of institutions in poverty reduction and inclusive growth: a case study of the (street hawkers in) Lagos state informal economy’ available online:  

• Igudia, E. (2016). Sustainable Economic Development and the Informal Economy: Lessons from an Emerging Market Economy, 17th International Academy of African Business and Development Conference, p.213-219, ISBN: 978-0-620-70935-44-8 April, 2016. ILPC Germany, ‘Working in the Nigerian informal economy’.   

• 12-14 November 2015. AIB-SE conference, Savannah, Georgia State, US, ‘Sustainable economic development and the informal economy: lessons from an emerging market economy’
• 18-19 June 2015. ICEIRD conference, Sheffield, UK, ‘Determinants of the informal economy of an emerging economy: A Multiple Indicator, Multiple Causes Approach’
• 13-16 May 2015. IAABD conference, Kenya, ‘Integrating formal and informal businesses in Nigeria for Sustainable development’
• 23-26 October 2014. AIB-SE conference, Miami, Florida, ‘Revisiting the link between theory and methods: the case of the informal economy’
• 11-13 November 2013. ISBE International conference, Cardiff, UK, ‘Austerity measures or entrepreneurial development? The case of the Nigerian Informal Economy’
• 6 September 2013. ‘Size and determinants of the Nigerian informal economy’ presented at East Midland University conference, Derby, UK.

• 2024-2025: £21,079.17 The Academy of Medical Sciences. Award Reference: NGR1\1771 ‘promoting innovation ecosystems in the informal sector, decent work and inclusive growth in LDCs
• 2024-2025: £12,477.29 International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF): IG.0168.02.02 “Setting-up a stakeholders forum (SF) for inclusive policy in the informal economy and inclusive growth in Nigeria” REF impact case study
• 2021-2023: British Academy research grant (Humanities and Social Sciences Tackling Global Challenge: £49, 609). Award Reference: TGC\200070.
• 2023: £10,000 Leicester City Anti-Poverty Research Grant; 2022: £6,000 MSE Charity Grant.
• 2021 October-2022 March: British Academy research grant (£9638). Award Reference: PPHE210175

My main area of research is economic development and poverty reduction, with specific focus on the informal economy. I have undertaken numerous fieldworks, collected qualitative and quantitative data, and work with interdisciplinary academics and policymakers across many African countries to study the informal economy, green and inclusive policies. Overall, my work in the informal economy has continued to seek policy change and impact, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth. In testament to my growing reputation as a research leader, I formed POPED (policy, poverty reduction, and economic development) research group to cover my broad research interest, with members across Europe, Asia and Africa. 

I have gained international recognition and achieved successes in securing research grants, publishing in, and reviewing for, top journals. I am consistently publishing articles at the levels of 3- and 4-stars. I recently completed a British Academy (BA) funded project on inclusive policy and poverty reduction in Lagos, Nigeria, which has generated many interesting outputs. Currently, I lead an Academy of Medical Sciences funded project on ‘innovation ecosystem in the informal economy to promote decent work and economic growth in Kenya and Uganda’.

On April 1 2025, the British Academy (BA) President singled out my work on ‘inclusive poverty reduction, in search of policy framework for individuals operating in the informal economy in Lagos’ for praise, for its impact and contribution to inclusive policy, when talking about the projects BA has supported at Ð԰ɵç̨. On March 4 and 5 2025, I set-up two ‘Stakeholders Forum’ for policy dialogue, formulation and implementation respectively for the ‘informal economy’ and ‘Renewable Energy’ in Lagos, Nigeria. For doing this, I received official commendation and commitment from policymakers, with wide media coverage.

Currently developing two impact case studies. The first on my work on 'inclusive policy for people carrying out their economic activities in the informal economy of Lagos state, Nigeria'. The second is on debt and financial literacy in Leicester.