The Nigerian Economic Society Female Professionals (NESFP) has intensified efforts to revive interest in the economics subject among secondary school students.
The group warned that declining enrolment in the discipline could weaken Nigeria’s future pool of economic professionals and policymakers.
The initiative, themed ‘Making a Fulfilling and Successful Career Path in Economics: Queen of Social Sciences’, was held in Lagos, bringing together students from three secondary schools in the Maryland Educational District.
Speaking at the event, the South-West Coordinator of NESFP and lecturer of Economics at the University of Lagos, Dr Anthonia Odeleye, said the programme was conceived in response to the steady decline in student enrolment in economics departments across universities.
According to her, concerns over the shrinking number of students studying economics prompted the society to partner with the Lagos State Ministry of Education to engage secondary school pupils and encourage them to consider careers in the field.
She noted that undergraduate economics students from the University of Lagos were also involved in the outreach to provide mentorship and relatable insights into the discipline.
As part of the programme, students participated in a debate on the impact of inflation on different income groups, while outstanding participants received certificates and prizes.
An award was also presented to the overall best economics student among the participating schools.
Addressing concerns about how the mathematical component of economics discourages prospective students, Odeleye said a basic understanding of mathematics, coupled with determination and diligence, was sufficient to succeed in the discipline.
President of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES), Dr Baba Musa, highlighted the challenges facing women in the profession, noting that female representation declines significantly at senior levels across academia, policy institutions and research organisations.
He attributed the challenge to persistent gender stereotypes, unequal family responsibilities and biases in promotion and career advancement structures.
Musa urged female economists to pursue mentorship opportunities, build professional networks and actively contribute to public discourse and policy development.
Also speaking, Chairperson of NESFP and a member of the University of Benin economics faculty, Prof. Mercy Anyiwe, said the field offers career opportunities beyond the commonly perceived banking and teaching pathways.
She identified data analytics, public policy, international development, consulting, diplomacy, technology and corporate leadership as emerging opportunities, while urging parents to encourage their children to study the discipline.
Anyiwe added that economics remained foundational to several professions, including banking, finance, accounting, insurance and business administration.
Odeleye said the society plans to expand the initiative across the South-West, with similar programmes expected to be implemented in other regions as part of efforts to sustain interest in economics among young Nigerians.