Uniben Department of Economics and Statistics

1. INTRODUCTION

The Department began in September, 1975 as a sub-section of the Department of Economics and Business Studies. It became autonomous and full-fledged in July 1977 as the Department of Economics and Statistics, and in 1978, produced its first set of Graduates. The Department has also successfully produced at least 34 Post-graduate Students including 5 at the Doctoral Level.

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The major objectives of the Department of Economics and Statistics are to offer sound educational preparation in Economics, Banking and Finance to all students enrolled in this area and to give them a firm foundation for effective participation in the Society in general and in Nigeria, in particular as Economists, Bankers, Financiers, Administrators Management Executives and Allied Professionals. To this end, the Department offers academic programmes leading to the award of Diploma in Banking and Finance, B.Sc. and M.Sc. Degrees in Economics, Banking and Finance and Ph.D. Degree in Economics and

Statistics.

3. STUDENT ENROLMENT

Enrolment in the Department has continued to grow especially at the 100 and 200 Levels. The trend is likely to continue in the future particularly because of the expanding services provided by this Department to other Departments within and outside the Faculty of Social Sciences. A good number of students are enrolled in the Department's Postgraduate Programmes.

4. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Research activities in the Department reflect the variety of academic backgrounds and specializations of the teaching staff.

The following are only a sample of research works currently researched on by the staff:

1. Nigeria’s Balance of Payments Problems
2. Taxation and Income Distribution of Nigeria
3. Competition in the Commercial Banking System
4. Fertility, Household Economics and Labour Market Implication
5. Productivity Differentials in Selected Breweries
6. Joint Products, Disequilibrium Econometrics and Demand for Water and Electricity.
7. Investment and Pricing in the Petroleum Product Pipelines Network.
8. Macro-econometric Simulation of the Oil Sector
9. Demographic Factors and Economic Policy
10. Modeling of Demographic Factors in Micro-economic Decisions
11. Nigerian experience- in debt rescheduling
12. Graduate Unemployment

5. FUTURE PLANS

The Department’s Postgraduate Programme has made significant progress in terms of student enrolment. No opportunities will be spared to further strengthen the postgraduate programmes in the Department. It is hoped that in the near future postgraduate Diploma/Certificate, in Banking and Statistics will be introduce which aims at further Developing, Teaching and Research capabilities as well as Consultancy Competence in the Department. To facilitate the achievement of these objectives, the Hewlett Packard Programmable Calculators in the Department's Statistical Laboratory will be fully mobilized. A complete Mini Computer will be acquired at the earliest opportunity.

5. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. FOUR YEAR B. SC. PROGRAMME IN ECONOMICS &

STATISTICS

1. West African School/SSCE Certificate (WASC) with Credit Passes in at least five subjects which should include English Language and Mathematics (obtained in not more than two sittings) or equivalent Credit Passes in the General Certificate of Education at the Ordinary Level (also obtained in not more than two sittings). As well as there are no waivers for credit passes in English Language and Mathematics. National Examination Council (NECO), National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB).

2. The required Joint Matriculation Examination subjects are:

English Language, Mathematics, Economics Plus any other subject

2. THREE YEAR B.SC PROGRAMME:

Requirements in A (a) above plus two or more subjects in the General Certificate of Education at the Advanced level or the Higher School Certificate, one of the subjects must be Economics.

7. DEGREE PROGRAMME AND REQUIREMENTS

A minimum of 168 Credits is required for the four-year degree programme and 126 Credits in the three-year degree programme. This works out as at least 42 Credits or 14 courses (excluding General Studies courses) each session.

Students enrolled in the Department are required to select 100 level courses from the Departments of Economics and Statistics and two other Departments in the Faculty. 200 Level Courses must be selected from the Department and one other Department in the Faculty, 300 and 400 Level courses are normally taken entirely within the Department of Economics and Statistics.