Eka Ikpe

Eka Ikpe
Eka Ikpe
	Ikpe at ECOWAS 50th Anniversary Abuja 2025
Born	Ekaette Ikpe
Citizenship	Nigerian
Education	University of Leeds (BA in Economics); SOAS (MSc and PhD in Economics)
Occupations	Academic, Development Economist
Employer	King's College London
Known for	African development; Peacebuilding; Creative economies
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. She is also the Director of the African Leadership Centre at King's College London. Her work focuses on structural transformation, peacebuilding, health, creative economies, and state capital and developmentalism in Africa and parts of Global South.

Education

Ikpe holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Leeds, Master of Science in economics (with reference to Africa), and a PhD in economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Career

Ikpe is currently a Professor of Development Economics and the Director of the African Leadership Centre at King's College London. Her foci include creative economies, capital and developmentalism, industrial development, health, structural transformation, peacebuilding and reconstruction. She has contributed written evidence to the UK Parliament on peacebuilding in Africa, including mine action, which involves managing the dangers posed by land mines.

Ikpe has also made media appearances on BBC World News, Al Jazeera, Radio France International, The Institute of Art and Ideas, and Mail & Guardian. She was a keynote speaker at the University of Warwick’s “Blood on the Leaves” conference on race, resistance, and memory. Ikpe is a Global Board Member of the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

Selected publications

"Fashion Designers as Lead Firms from Below: Creative Economy, State Capitalism and Internationalization in Lagos and Nairobi". Competition & Change (2024). DOI
Nasong'o, Shadrack Wanjala; Ikpe, Eka, eds. (2022). Beyond Disciplines: African Perspectives on Theory and Method. CODESRIA. ISBN 9782382340929.
"Developmental Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Postindependence Nigeria: Lessons From Asian Developmental States". Journal of Peacebuilding & Development, Vol. 16(3) (2021). DOI
"Transcending the State-Market Dichotomy, Developmentalism and Industrial Change: Learning from Critical African Scholars". Africa Development, Vol. XLVI(3), pp. 21–44 (2021). JSTOR
"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
Ikpe, E. (2021). "Developmental Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Postindependence Nigeria: Lessons From Asian Developmental States". Journal of Peacebuilding & Development, pp.318–335. JSTOR
Ikpe, Eka; Torriti, Jacopo (2018). "A Means to an Industrialisation End? Demand Side Management in Nigeria". Energy Policy. 115: 207–215. DOI
"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
Olonisakin, Funmi; Barnes, Karen; Ikpe, Eka, eds. (2012). Women, Peace and Security: Translating Policy into Practice. Routledge. 272 pages. ISBN 9780415532495.

References

1 2 "Dr. Ekaette Ikpe — The African Leadership Centre". African Leadership Centre. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
1 2 3 4 5 "Professor Eka Ikpe". King's College London. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
↑ "Written evidence submitted by Dr Eka Ikpe and Dr Sarah Njeri (ZAF0023)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
↑ "Eka Ikpe". IAI TV. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
↑ Ikpe, Eka (11 April 2026). "Innovation, Preparedness And African Agency In A Multipolar World". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
↑ "Keynote Speakers – Blood on the Leaves". University of Warwick. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
↑ "Ekaette Eka Ikpe". Overseas Development Institute. 2 January 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
↑ Ikpe, Eka (2021). "Developmental Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Postindependence Nigeria". Journal of Peacebuilding & Development. 16 (3). doi:10.1177/1542316620969660.
↑ Ikpe, Eka (2021). "Transcending the State–Market Dichotomy, Developmentalism and Industrial Change". Africa Development. 46 (3): 21–44. JSTOR 48630969.
↑ Ikpe, Eka (2021). "SDevelopmental Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Postindependence Nigeria: Lessons From Asian Developmental States". Peacebuilding & Development: 318–335. JSTOR 48651735.
↑ Ikpe, Eka (2014). "The Development Planning Era and Developmental Statehood". Review of African Political Economy. 41 (142): 545–560. JSTOR 24858266.

External links

[IkpeALC-1] 1 2 "Dr. Ekaette Ikpe — The African Leadership Centre". African Leadership Centre. Retrieved 27 October 2025.

[IkpeKCL-2] 1 2 3 4 5 "Professor Eka Ikpe". King's College London. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.

[3] "Written evidence submitted by Dr Eka Ikpe and Dr Sarah Njeri (ZAF0023)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 27 October 2025.

[4] "Eka Ikpe". IAI TV. Retrieved 27 October 2025.

[IkpeMG2026-5] Ikpe, Eka (11 April 2026). "Innovation, Preparedness And African Agency In A Multipolar World". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2026.

[6] "Keynote Speakers – Blood on the Leaves". University of Warwick. Retrieved 27 October 2025.

[7] "Ekaette Eka Ikpe". Overseas Development Institute. 2 January 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.

[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): 21–44. JSTOR 48630969.

[10] Ikpe, Eka (2021). "SDevelopmental Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Postindependence Nigeria: Lessons From Asian Developmental States". Peacebuilding & Development: 318–335. JSTOR 48651735.

[11] Ikpe, Eka (2014). "The Development Planning Era and Developmental Statehood". Review of African Political Economy. 41 (142): 545–560. JSTOR 24858266.