Biography

Dr. M.A. Yaru is a Reader/Associate Professor of Economics (with specialization in Public Finance) at the Department of Economics in Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ilorin. He joined the services of the University in 2005 and currently the Acting Head of Department of Psychology, and the Faculty Representative at the Postgraduate School Board.  He has held various administrative positions within his Department including the Acting Head of Department, Departmental Examination Officer, Postgraduate Programmes Coordinator, Undergraduate Research Project Coordinator and Academic Level Advisers at different periods of his career.  He also served the Faculty of Social Sciences on different capacities such as Member of Faculty Examination Malpractice Panel, Faculty Representative at the Technical and Entrepreneurial Centre (TEC) of the University and Faculty Representative in the Senate Estimate Committee. Dr. Yaru had also served as Visiting Research Fellow at Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), Nigeria, between October, 2020 and September, 2019. During his stint KW-IRS, he led a number of research programmes that helped the Service to improve and sustain revenue generation for the State.

A recipient of the Young African Scholars (YAS) Grant Award in 2010 from the African Econometric Society (AES), Dr. Yaru has consulted for organisations such as the World Bank and Civil Resource Development Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC)/DFID, on public financial management and budgeting. At national and Sub-national levels. His research interests revolved around public finance, development economics, corruption and elections. He has published articles in peer reviewed national and international journals. One is recent works was published in Public Sector Economics, a leading Journal in Croatia. His essays have also been featured in magazines and newspapers. One of them titled “Taxation: The Journey to Sustainable Development of Kwara State” made the lead headline for the cover of the May 2017 edition of KWAREVE News, to mark Kwara State’s 50th anniversary celebration. Dr. Yaru is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University and University of Ilorin, Nigeria, and a member of the Nigeria Economic Society (NES).