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Dr Eka Ikpe

Director, African Leadership Centre

  • Reader in Development Economics in Africa

Research interests

  • Conflict
  • International development
  • International relations
  • Security

Biography

Dr Eka Ikpe is Director and Reader (Development Economics in Africa) at the African Leadership Centre at King's. Her research offers a critical understanding of socio-economic transformation processes which advances concept-building that centres spaces in Africa and parts of the Global South across the fields of economic development and peace and security.

Current themes of interest include, developmentalism, industrial development and structural transformation, peacebuilding, post-conflict reconstruction and the economic costs of conflict and creative economies. Her research has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council-Global Challenges Research Fund, the Economic and Social Sciences Research Council, Carnegie Corporation of New York and the International Development Research Centre.

Eka is Co-Editor of Peace, Society and the State in Africa and African Perspectives of Leadership and Peacebuilding (Bloomsbury Press) and on the editorial boards of Africa Development, African Security Review and Journal of Leadership and Developing Societies. She is on the Research Advisory Committee of Women for Women International.

Eka's research has supported the work of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Economic Community of West African States, UK Ministry of Defence, UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Africa, UK Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (formerly DFID). Eka has commented on development, peace and security in Africa for BBC World News, BBC Radio 4, Al Jazeera and Radio France International.

Eka holds a BA in Economics from the University of Leeds, MSc in Economics (with reference to Africa) and a PhD in Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

Research

  • Developmentalism in Africa and Asia
  • Industrial development and structural transformation
  • International/regional political economy dynamics and development
  • Peacebuilding, conflict, security and development

Teaching

Undergraduate

Postgraduate

Further details

See Eka's research profile

    News

    New podcast on African fashion launches

    The 'Africa Fashion Futures' podcast provides an opportunity to hear from academics and industry experts about the fascinating world of African fashion. 

    Africa fashion futures podcast logo

    King's part of new Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE)

    Seventeen research Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) have been created to bring together researchers from Europe and Africa, to transform collaboration...

    The team at the Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) event

    Collective climate action needed, King's experts tell London Climate Action Week

    As part of London Climate Action Week, King’s experts demonstrated the value of partnership to address policy gaps and improve climate change adaptation plans.

    London Climate Action Week 2022 graphics

    IWD 2022: Women leading the way within SSPP

    The Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy has its research endeavour entirely led by women and four women academics from the faculty have just been...

    SSPP's title and a montage of images relevant to the faculty's teaching and research

    DfID no more – King's global briefing calls into question motives behind the merger

    Three prominent voices in international development have raised concerns about the recently announced merger of the UK’s Department for International...

    Busy African city street

    Four New PLUS Alliance Fellows in SSPP

    Four colleagues in SSPP have been appointed as Fellows of the PLUS Alliance, a partnership of three universities including King's College London.

    The Earth from space

    Sharing learning and expertise on leadership

    Updates from the African Leadership Centre's partnership activities in Somaliland, Ethiopia and Kenya.

    The African Leadership Centre meets with the Institute of Development (IDS), University of Nairobi

    Events

    04OctUganda 780 x 440 antoine-pluss-MsKv6HCQ0F0-unsplash

    Book discussion: Ugandan agency within China-Africa relations

    Hybrid seminar presentation on a book titled ‘Uganda Agency within China-Africa Relation: President Museveni and China’s Foreign Policy in East Africa’...

    06MarCOVID and RBC

    Keynote: Global Public Health and Innovation in Africa

    This keynote will examine the significance of African scientists' development of a COVID19 Vaccine in Nigeria in response to the pandemic.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    28Novafrica research promo

    Africa's influence on changing peace and security landscapes: reflection for policy, practice and scholarship

    Hear from Dr Comfort Ero, President and CEO of International Crisis Group (ICG).

    Please note: this event has passed.

    18OctOil Rig 780x440 shutterstock_469457198

    The transitional complexities of petroleum governance in Ghana

    Clement Sefa-Nyarko will discuss drivers of governance frameworks in Ghana with an emphasis on the petroleum sector.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    27AprLusophone African Countries

    Examining Knowledge production on Peace and Security in Francophone and Lusophone African countries

    Dr. David Mwambari discusses knowledge production on Peace and Security in Francophone and Lusophone African countries

    Please note: this event has passed.

    29JunYouth protest, Lagos, Nigeria, October 2020

    Youth-led Protest and the Renegotiation of the 'State' in Africa: initial mapping assessment

    Dr. Olawale Ismail and Rachel Sittoni discuss youth-led protest and the renegotiation of the 'state' in Africa

    Please note: this event has passed.

    25MayYaounde, Cameroon

    Shrinking Civic Space and the Role of Civil Society in Resolution of Conflict in Anglophone Cameroon

    Prof. James Kiven Kewir and Dr Sonja Theron will discuss the resolution of conflict in Anglophone Cameroon.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    09MarAfrican fabrics and sewing machine

    Africa Week Keynote: Fashion as an interlocuter across disciplines, time and spaces

    A conversation with renowned Fashion Designer, Ituen Basi, about how Fashion and the Arts, more widely, serve as connectors across themes including history,...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    08Marbook shelves

    Africa Week Keynote: Global Africa and contemporary literature: A conversation with key literary African voices, Chibundu Onuzo and Nancy Adimora - in Celebration of International Women's Day

    This event features a conversation with two brilliant King's alumnae that are defining voices in the African literature landscape.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    18JanTree and mountains Kenya

    Ethics and Qualitative Research Methods in African Contexts

    This event will examine the dynamics and sensitivities of ethics in qualitative research in Africa.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    Nigeria elections: the surprising influence of Afrobeats music on politics

    In the run-up to Nigeria’s February 2023 elections, the country’s younger generation has mobilised to demand change and redefine the political landscape – and...

    Wizkid at Rolling Loud in Toronto, Canada. Mac Downey/Flickr photo

    Could COVID-19 present opportunities for revitalising manufacturing in Africa?

    Despite the immense challenges the COVID-19 pandemic brings, it also presents opportunities to strengthen industrial development in the African context.

    ALC Factory in Nigeria

    Black History Month 2020: Resisting oppression, structural barriers and attainment gaps

    In conversation with Professor Anne Pollock and Dr Eka Ikpe of the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy for Black History Month 2020

    BHM 20 updated hero sized image

    Trading beyond Brexit: is the UK ready?

    Experts from King’s College London give their views on the UK’s current position and look at the challenges the UK faces in relation to securing its place...

    shipping-containers-1096829_1920

    IWD 2020: Celebrating Eka Ikpe

    For International Women's Day this year, we celebrate Dr Eka Ikpe and explore her experiences as an African woman, researcher and Senior Lecturer at King’s.

    cheering

      News

      New podcast on African fashion launches

      The 'Africa Fashion Futures' podcast provides an opportunity to hear from academics and industry experts about the fascinating world of African fashion. 

      Africa fashion futures podcast logo

      King's part of new Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE)

      Seventeen research Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) have been created to bring together researchers from Europe and Africa, to transform collaboration...

      The team at the Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoRE) event

      Collective climate action needed, King's experts tell London Climate Action Week

      As part of London Climate Action Week, King’s experts demonstrated the value of partnership to address policy gaps and improve climate change adaptation plans.

      London Climate Action Week 2022 graphics

      IWD 2022: Women leading the way within SSPP

      The Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy has its research endeavour entirely led by women and four women academics from the faculty have just been...

      SSPP's title and a montage of images relevant to the faculty's teaching and research

      DfID no more – King's global briefing calls into question motives behind the merger

      Three prominent voices in international development have raised concerns about the recently announced merger of the UK’s Department for International...

      Busy African city street

      Four New PLUS Alliance Fellows in SSPP

      Four colleagues in SSPP have been appointed as Fellows of the PLUS Alliance, a partnership of three universities including King's College London.

      The Earth from space

      Sharing learning and expertise on leadership

      Updates from the African Leadership Centre's partnership activities in Somaliland, Ethiopia and Kenya.

      The African Leadership Centre meets with the Institute of Development (IDS), University of Nairobi

      Events

      04OctUganda 780 x 440 antoine-pluss-MsKv6HCQ0F0-unsplash

      Book discussion: Ugandan agency within China-Africa relations

      Hybrid seminar presentation on a book titled ‘Uganda Agency within China-Africa Relation: President Museveni and China’s Foreign Policy in East Africa’...

      06MarCOVID and RBC

      Keynote: Global Public Health and Innovation in Africa

      This keynote will examine the significance of African scientists' development of a COVID19 Vaccine in Nigeria in response to the pandemic.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      28Novafrica research promo

      Africa's influence on changing peace and security landscapes: reflection for policy, practice and scholarship

      Hear from Dr Comfort Ero, President and CEO of International Crisis Group (ICG).

      Please note: this event has passed.

      18OctOil Rig 780x440 shutterstock_469457198

      The transitional complexities of petroleum governance in Ghana

      Clement Sefa-Nyarko will discuss drivers of governance frameworks in Ghana with an emphasis on the petroleum sector.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      27AprLusophone African Countries

      Examining Knowledge production on Peace and Security in Francophone and Lusophone African countries

      Dr. David Mwambari discusses knowledge production on Peace and Security in Francophone and Lusophone African countries

      Please note: this event has passed.

      29JunYouth protest, Lagos, Nigeria, October 2020

      Youth-led Protest and the Renegotiation of the 'State' in Africa: initial mapping assessment

      Dr. Olawale Ismail and Rachel Sittoni discuss youth-led protest and the renegotiation of the 'state' in Africa

      Please note: this event has passed.

      25MayYaounde, Cameroon

      Shrinking Civic Space and the Role of Civil Society in Resolution of Conflict in Anglophone Cameroon

      Prof. James Kiven Kewir and Dr Sonja Theron will discuss the resolution of conflict in Anglophone Cameroon.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      09MarAfrican fabrics and sewing machine

      Africa Week Keynote: Fashion as an interlocuter across disciplines, time and spaces

      A conversation with renowned Fashion Designer, Ituen Basi, about how Fashion and the Arts, more widely, serve as connectors across themes including history,...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      08Marbook shelves

      Africa Week Keynote: Global Africa and contemporary literature: A conversation with key literary African voices, Chibundu Onuzo and Nancy Adimora - in Celebration of International Women's Day

      This event features a conversation with two brilliant King's alumnae that are defining voices in the African literature landscape.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      18JanTree and mountains Kenya

      Ethics and Qualitative Research Methods in African Contexts

      This event will examine the dynamics and sensitivities of ethics in qualitative research in Africa.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      Nigeria elections: the surprising influence of Afrobeats music on politics

      In the run-up to Nigeria’s February 2023 elections, the country’s younger generation has mobilised to demand change and redefine the political landscape – and...

      Wizkid at Rolling Loud in Toronto, Canada. Mac Downey/Flickr photo

      Could COVID-19 present opportunities for revitalising manufacturing in Africa?

      Despite the immense challenges the COVID-19 pandemic brings, it also presents opportunities to strengthen industrial development in the African context.

      ALC Factory in Nigeria

      Black History Month 2020: Resisting oppression, structural barriers and attainment gaps

      In conversation with Professor Anne Pollock and Dr Eka Ikpe of the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy for Black History Month 2020

      BHM 20 updated hero sized image

      Trading beyond Brexit: is the UK ready?

      Experts from King’s College London give their views on the UK’s current position and look at the challenges the UK faces in relation to securing its place...

      shipping-containers-1096829_1920

      IWD 2020: Celebrating Eka Ikpe

      For International Women's Day this year, we celebrate Dr Eka Ikpe and explore her experiences as an African woman, researcher and Senior Lecturer at King’s.

      cheering