NSUK Prof. Abdul Adamu Advocates ‘Savings-First’ Investment Culture at 62nd Inaugural Lecture

Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, hosted its 62nd Inaugural Lecture, with Professor Abdul Adamu of the Department of Business Administration delivering a thought-provoking discourse on Nigeria’s economic future.

The lecture, titled “Reimagining Nigeria’s Financial System in Flux: The Savings-First Investment Paradigm,” was held at the University Assembly Hall and attracted a distinguished audience comprising academics, traditional rulers, government officials, students, financial experts, and members of the university community.

Declaring the lecture open on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Halima Aliyu Doma- Kutigi, described the theme as highly relevant to the prevailing economic realities in Nigeria.

She noted that rising inflation, exchange-rate instability, and other economic uncertainties continue to threaten sustainable growth and long-term investment, stressing that the “savings-first” philosophy offers a practical pathway towards building economic resilience.

Professor Kutigi urged households to embrace a culture of saving before spending, challenged financial institutions to develop products that encourage long-term financial planning, and called on policymakers to create an enabling environment that promotes public confidence and capital formation

She further commended Professor Adamu, who currently serves as Director of Quality Assurance, for his outstanding contributions to scholarship and national development through research and policy engagement.

In his lecture, Professor Adamu examined the structural, behavioural, and volatility-driven factors shaping Nigeria’s financial landscape. He argued that financial instability has become a recurring feature of modern economies and can no longer be treated as a temporary phenomenon.

The inaugural lecturer identified several major challenges confronting Nigeria’s economic growth, including low domestic savings despite the country’s abundant natural and human resources, excessive dependence on foreign capital, and policy frameworks that often fail to anticipate and withstand market fluctuations.

Drawing from years of empirical research, he proposed a transformative “Savings-First Investment Paradigm,” which places domestic savings at the centre of economic development and capital formation. According to him, sustainable growth can only be achieved when nations rely more on internally generated capital rather than external financing.

Professor Adamu outlined key pillars for economic recovery and resilience, including aggressive domestic savings mobilization, strategic public investments, enhanced support for innovation and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and the deployment of digital technologies to expand financial inclusion and encourage automated savings practices.

He also advocated stronger investor protection mechanisms, more resilient financial institutions, and indigenous economic policies driven by evidence-based planning and long-term national interests.

The lecture elicited commendations from several eminent personalities who delivered goodwill messages. Among them were the Dean of the Faculty of Administration, Professor A. D. Zubairu; the Vice-Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Ayingba, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman; the Director of NSUK’s Institute of Capital Markets Studies and President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria (CMAN), Professor Uche J. Uwaleke; the Ejeh of Ankpa, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Ahmed Yakubu II; and a representative of family and friends, Dr. Joel Haruna.

The speakers unanimously praised Professor Adamu’s distinguished academic career, mentorship record, and contributions to the development of Nigeria’s capital market sector, describing him as a scholar whose work continues to inspire future generations of researchers.

In recognition of his remarkable achievements and contributions to academia, the University Management presented Professor Adamu with a plaque and certificate in recognition of his presentation of the 62nd Inaugural Lecture. The award was presented by Professor Halima Doma Kutigi on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor.

The ceremony concluded with group photographs and celebrations, marking another significant milestone in NSUK’s commitment to advancing intellectual discourse and providing practical solutions to national and global challenges through research and scholarship.