Abiola Ayopo Babajide, Ph.D.
November 15, 2023 2025-10-03 12:40Abiola Ayopo Babajide, Ph.D.
Professor Abiola Babajide is a distinguished scholar, financial economist, and higher education leader whose career reflects a blend of academic excellence, institutional leadership, and service to national development. She is the current Dean of the James Hope Business School and the former Acting Vice Chancellor of James Hope University, where she provided steady and visionary leadership during a crucial period of transition. She played a pivotal role in strengthening academic structures, enhancing global visibility, and fostering partnerships with international institutions and regulatory bodies.
Her academic foundation is both solid and diverse. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and educational management from Lagos State University in 1992, followed by a Master of Science in Banking and Finance from Bayero University, Kano, in 1996. In 2002, she qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), further consolidating her professional expertise. She later obtained a Ph.D. in Finance from Covenant University, Ota, in 2011. Joining Covenant University as an Assistant Lecturer in 2002, she rose steadily through the academic ranks and attained the position of full Professor of Finance in 2021. In 2023, she was appointed Professor of Finance at James Hope University, where she continues to contribute significantly to the institution’s academic, strategic, and leadership growth.
At Covenant University, Professor Babajide held several key leadership positions. She served as Head of the Department of Banking and Finance from 2012 to 2014 and again from 2020 to 2021, before becoming Dean of the College of Management and Social Sciences in 2021. Between 2014 and 2016, she also served as Director of the Strategic Business Unit, where she provided oversight for business innovation and revenue generation. Beyond academia, she was a Member of the Board of Directors of Covenant Microfinance Bank from 2014 to 2018 and later its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer from 2016 to 2017, further deepening her expertise in corporate governance and financial management. She also made significant contributions to institutional service, including chairing the 2018 Convocation Committee at Covenant University.
Professor Babajide’s scholarly contributions are equally outstanding. She has graduated six Ph.D. students and is currently supervising four others, reflecting her deep commitment to mentoring the next generation of finance scholars. Her research spans financial inclusion, public sector financial management, small and entrepreneurial finance, capital market development, corporate finance, sustainable and climate finance, with publications in high-impact journals and presentations at international conferences. She is a long-standing member of the Nigeria Finance Research Society (since 2008) and the American Finance Association, underscoring her professional visibility and engagement in global finance research.
Her influence extends to governance and thought leadership. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Honorary Senior Member Chartered Banker (HCIB), member Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) and a Governing Council Member of the Institute of Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Governance, where she contributes to shaping policy frameworks and advancing leadership and enterprise development in Nigeria and Africa. At James Hope University, she is spearheading the development of core academic programs designed to accelerate Nigeria’s pathway to a $1 trillion economy, aligning education with national and global development imperatives.
Her academic influence also extends beyond Nigeria. She serves as Visiting Professor and Ph.D. External Examiner to leading institutions across the globe, including the University of South Africa (UNISA), University of Johannesburg, De Montfort University (UK), Hertforte University (South Africa), New England University (Australia), and the American University of Yaoundé, Cameroon. These international roles highlight her recognition as a trusted scholar in finance education and doctoral mentorship across diverse academic contexts.
Professor Babajide’s leadership style is grounded in integrity, collaboration, and impact. During her tenure as Acting Vice Chancellor of James Hope University, she streamlined academic processes, advanced professional partnerships, and championed international collaborations. Colleagues and students commend her accessibility, encouragement, and ability to inspire excellence. Her scholarship, combined with her leadership roles in both academia and finance, underscores her conviction that universities must not only disseminate knowledge but also transform individuals and societies.
Today, Professor Abiola Babajide is recognized as one of Nigeria’s foremost finance scholars, an accomplished administrator, and a mentor to the next generation of academics and professionals. Her journey—from an economics graduate in Lagos to a Professor of Finance, Dean, and Acting Vice Chancellor—illustrates resilience, excellence, and her unwavering vision for higher education as a driver of innovation and societal transformation.