The Director of the Professor Ngozi Eunice Egbuna International Centre for Regional Integration and Trade Research (ICRITR), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Ngozi Eunice Egbuna, was honoured with the Academia of the Year Award on Saturday, July 18, 2026, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to academia, economic research, international trade, and regional integration.
Professor Egbuna, Nigeria’s first World Trade Organization (WTO) Chair, is a distinguished economist and visiting Professor at the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja. She previously served as the Director-General of the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) on secondment from the Central Bank of Nigeria, following over three decades of distinguished service in central banking, monetary policy formulation, economic research, and regional economic integration across West Africa. She is also an accomplished author of several books and scholarly publications, a Life Member of the Nigerian Economic Society, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Statistical Association, among other professional affiliations.
Presenting the award, the organizers described Professor Egbuna as a remarkable academic leader whose outstanding achievements have earned widespread admiration within the academic community. They noted that the award reflected their confidence in her exceptional record of excellence, adding that she was unanimously considered deserving of the honour. They further wished her greater accomplishments and continued impact in advancing scholarship and knowledge.
Receiving the award, Professor Egbuna expressed profound appreciation to the organizers, describing the recognition as the first award of her life and noting that receiving it in her home state of Anambra made the moment especially memorable.
She dedicated the award to God, her late parents, her children and grandchildren, while paying special tribute to her husband for his unwavering support throughout her academic journey.
Professor Egbuna also used the occasion to highlight the recent commissioning of the Professor Ngozi Eunice Egbuna International Centre for Regional Integration and Trade Research (ICRITR) at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. She described the Centre as a pioneering institution committed to advancing capacity development in international trade, trade law and policy, foreign exchange management, regional integration, and other trade-related disciplines.
According to her, the Centre’s hybrid learning model has attracted students from different parts of the world, with its maiden cohort expected to complete their programmes later this year.
She concluded by appreciating the Deputy Director of ICRITR, Associate Professor Uche Ekwugha, her colleagues, the leadership and staff of the Centre, the ICRITR ICT team, and everyone whose support has contributed to the realization of the Centre’s vision.