Professor Risikat Oladoyin Dauda is a distinguished Professor of Economics at the University of Lagos and one of Nigeria’s foremost voices in Development Economics. With over three decades of academic, research, and public service experience, she brings a rare blend of scholarly rigour, leadership, and policy influence.
Her research portfolio spans critical areas including human capital development, poverty and income distribution, education and health economics, gender studies, and development finance. She has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, with a sustained commitment to bridging theory and real-world economic challenges, particularly across African economies.
Professor Dauda has served in numerous leadership roles within academia and beyond. She is the current Director of the Distance Learning Institute at the University of Lagos and was the institution’s first female Head of the Department of Economics. She has served as an advisor and consultant on various national and international platforms, including the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), and the National Economic Advisory Council.
Her global engagements include serving as Chairperson of the Health Economics Working Group at the NIHR Global Surgery Unit (University of Birmingham), a Jury Member for the WAIFC Young Academic Award Competition, and a mentor at the inaugural Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession (CSWEP) in 2015. She is widely recognised for her advocacy in inclusive development, gender equity, and quality education.
Professor Dauda’s academic journey began with an M.Sc. (Hons) and Ph.D. in Economics from top institutions in Ukraine, followed by a distinguished academic career in Nigeria. She is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Economic Society (NES), the International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE), and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).
As a member of Kingsgate Advisors Institute’s Board of Advisors, Professor Dauda contributes deep expertise in development strategy, policy design, and the intersection of research and practical socio-economic transformation. Her presence strengthens Kingsgate’s mission to deliver impactful, evidence-driven policy insights and advisory services across Africa and globally.
