Ojo Johnson Adelakun
Dr. Ojo Johnson Adelakun (Associate Professor of Economics: National University of Lesotho; Research Fellow: Walter Sisulu University, SA; Honorary Research Fellow: UKZN, SA; Policy Consultant: PKF, Lesotho). Dr. Ojo Johnson Adelakun is a seasoned applied macroeconomist and academic leader with over 20 years of experience spanning academia, policy consultancy, and research across Africa and Europe. Currently serving as an Associate Professor at the National University of Lesotho and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, he specialises in Development Macroeconomics, International Trade and Finance, and Monetary Policy Analysis. He combines deep empirical expertise with policy relevance, contributing to academic discourse and public sector reform through advisory roles, editorial responsibilities, and high-impact research.
He holds a PhD in Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; MSc Economics, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria; BSc Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Certificate in Data and Project Management, Swansea University, UK. His research interests include, but are not limited to, Development Macroeconomics, Monetary Policy & Financial Markets, International Trade, Climate Economics, Resource & Environmental Economics, Experimental Economics, Secular Economy & Entrepreneurship. He has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses across institutions in Nigeria, Lesotho, and South Africa, including advanced courses in macroeconomics, public finance, international economics, and econometrics. He has supervised over 100 undergraduate projects and 40 postgraduate theses (MSc/MBA & Ph.D.).
He has published over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles in outlets such as Scientific African (Elsevier), Southern African Journal of Economics, BRICS Journal of Economics, Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Energy Research Letters, and Springer Nature Handbook chapters. Recent works have explored the intersections of FDI, climate change, financial market volatility, and trade integration in African economies. Dr. Adelakun has presented over 30 research papers at leading conferences, including ERSA (Pretoria), WTO-NUL Annual Conferences, Nordic Conference in Development Economics (Helsinki), and the Economic Society of South Africa Biennial Meetings.
Recent publications:
Adelakun, O. J., & Ojo, O. O. (2025). Global market opportunities for SMEs: Export/import perception and trade growth in Lesotho. Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, 17(1), a953. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajesbm.v17i1.953
Adelakun, O. J., & Teboho, J. (2025). Human capital development and international trade in Lesotho. In The handbook on colonial heritage and the socio-economic development of Africa. Springer Nature: Palgrave Macmillan.
Adelakun, O. J., Adelakun, Y., & Yousfi, K. (in press). Predictive analysis of trade patterns in Nigeria: Leveraging AI for optimal participation in AfCFTA. Scientific African, 24, e02068.
Adelakun, O. J., & Fatima, S. (in press). The role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in energy infrastructure development in developing countries. South African Journal of Economics, 95(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12313
Isah, K. O., Adelakun, O. J., & Udeaja, E. A. (2024). Experimenting with the forecasting power of speculation in the predictability of carbon prices. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade. https://doi.org/10.1080/1540496X.2024.2324194