George Kalu Idika Kalu

George Kalu Idika Kalu (KIK), PhD, OFR attended King’s College, Lagos, where he obtained his Cambridge School Certificate and Higher School Certificate in 1958 and 1960 respectively. He was a recipient of the African-American Scholarship for American Universities (ASPAU). KIK had BS (Econs), MA (Econs), and PhD in Economic Development and Public Finance. From May 1972 to September 1980, he served as the World Bank Country Economist in the East Asia and Pacific Programme Department covering the Division that included China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. He worked with the World Bank until 1980. On his return to Nigeria in 1980, KIK joined the prestigious firm of Skoup and Company Limited as Head of Economics from September 1980 to February 1984. He was appointed Commissioner of Finance in the old Imo State (February 1984 – August 1985), Minister of Finance (August 1985 – February 1986) by General Ibrahim Babangida, and Minister of National Planning (February 1986 – November 1987). From December 1987 to April 1989, he served as the Minister of Transport. He was again appointed Minister of Finance from October 1993 to October 1994 by General Sani Abacha. As Minister of Finance, he served as Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers. In the private sector, KIK was actively involved in policy consultancy and financial advisory. He served as the Chairman of DSL Consultancy and Financial Brokerage Limited, seminal Chairman, BGL Limited, a public policy advisory and investment bank. Currently, KIK is the is the Founder/Chairman of the Institute for Policy and Economic Development (IPED). KIK played a significant role in implementing economic restructuring policies that culminated in the adoption of Nigeria’s version of Structural Adjustment Programme. He pioneered as Minister in the implementation of the Federal Mass Transit in 1986 and the introduction of Value Added Tax in 1994. He was also involved in debt management and international economic relations as Minister of National Planning. KIK has received numerous honours such as the Stimson Fellow by Yale University, and a national award of OFR by the President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration, among others.