An Interview with Uduak Akpan, Aporde 2024 alumni

With Aporde 2024 having recently taken place, we are pleased to present a series of interviews with some of this year's lecturers and attendees.. These interviews are hosted and conducted by Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) Communications Officer Nondwe Majundana and feature a diverse range of specialists in the field of development economics. Dr. Uduak Akpan is an accomplished and versatile Development Economist with a strong research background and extensive professional experience in implementing development projects. He has expertise in designing and conducting comprehensive economic research, particularly in the energy and transport sectors. He has led several teams to conduct in-depth analyses of energy access, rural transport, rural development, etc, providing valuable insights to guide decision-making for both public sector clients and multilateral development organizations. Specifically, he has worked as a consultant for different organizations including ILC Africa (Ghana), African Governance and Development Institute (Cameroun), and the African Development Bank (AfDB). He has experience in implementing donor-funded projects spanning civil works, livelihood support, institutional capacity building, and project management. He has published numerous influential research papers in respected journals, contributing to advancing knowledge in the energy and transport sectors. He holds a BSc in Statistics from the University of Uyo (Nigeria); an M.Sc. in Energy Studies with specialization in Energy Economics (with distinction) from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom; and a Ph.D. in Development Economics from SOAS University of London, United Kingdom. Dr. Uduak Akpan brings a unique blend of research experience, practical experiences in the implementation of projects, and international exposure to his work