Mailafia began his career teaching
Government and
Economics at Akoko Anglican Grammar School, Arigidi-Ikare in
Ondo State,
Nigeria between 1978 and 1979 as part of his primary assignment during his obligatory
National Youth Service Corps year. After national service he returned to
Ahmadu Bello University, as a Graduate Assistant in the
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences from 1980 to 1982. During this period he lectured
undergraduates and was also
Research Assistant to Professor
Ibrahim Gambari, who later became
Foreign Minister and subsequently United Nations adviser for Political Affairs. From 1982 to 1989, Mailafia was a Fellow and sometime Acting Research Director of the
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). He was on the team that prepared a special report on
Local Government Reforms during 1982–1983. He also co-authored a report on the Maitatsine Religious Riots that formed the bedrock of the government's response to the crisis (1984). In
collaboration with Professors Adedotun Phillips and Eghosa Osagie, he prepared several technical papers advising the Nigerian government on economic policy and macroeconomic reforms. He served on a committee that advised the Federal Military Government on a peaceful approach to the Nigeria-Cameroon Bakassi Peninsula Dispute. It helped in avoiding a catastrophic war between the two neighboring countries. At the National Institute he came under the mentorship of illustrious Nigerians who have spurred his interests in public service: Chief
Simeon Adebo,
Pius Okigbo,
Eme Awa,
Olikoye Ransome-Kuti,
Gidado Idris,
Akinola Aguda,
Moshood Kashimawo Abiola and
Claude Ake. From 1990 to 1995, Mailafia was resident tutor and lecturer in the economics and politics of developing areas at Plater College Oxford at the time an associate college of the
University of Oxford. During 1995–1996 he was an assistant professor at
New England College, Arundel, the foreign academic programme of New England College. He was subsequently a lecturer in international finance at Richmond Business School, the American International University in London (1997–1998). He then had to move to Regents Business School London (1998–2000). From 2001 to 2005, Mailafia served as a chief economist in the Strategic Planning and Budgeting Department of the
African Development Bank Group. He served both in
Abidjan and in
Tunis when the bank was temporarily relocated to
Tunisia. In this capacity he was on several missions throughout Africa to supervise projects in power and
infrastructures,
agriculture industry. He was also the task manager for coordinating grants to research institutions throughout
Africa, including such institutions as the Council for Social Science Research, African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and the African Capacity Development Foundation (ACBF). He drafted the Concept Note that was later adopted by the board of the
AFDB, leading to the establishment of New Partnership for Africa's Development (
NEPAD) and was also a Member of the AfDB and the
United Nations Economic Commission of Africa (UNECA) Joint Committee that provided technical support to the steering committee of the heads of state and government on the establishment of
NEPAD and its secretariat. Mailafia was secretary to the senior management committee and special negotiating team for the Ninth Replenishment of the
African Development Fund and a member of the task force for the joint management of the
HIPC Trust Fund, in coordination with the
World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund (
IMF). From 2005 to 2007, Mailafia served as Deputy Governor of the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). UN agencies and the
IMF and
World Bank. He was involved in managing a portfolio of €22 billion of
EU funding for ACP countries under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) and €31.5 billion for the
11th European Development Fund covering the years 2015–2020. Mailafia was also in liaison with the
European Investment Bank (EIB) on the management of €5 billion Intra-ACP Resources Fund being managed by the EIB, comprising the Africa Infrastructure Fund and the ACP-EIB Investment Facility. He was also the chair of the ACP Strategic Management Group and the draftsman for the Secretariat's Strategic Plan, Renewal and Transformation (2011–2014). == Controversial views ==