Aisha Udochi is a doctoral student in Economics at Howard University and an Africa- China researcher concentrating in growth and development theory. She is also the founder of Dao Fei Consults LLC, a business development and research consultancy firm. Recognized for her work on formalizing and growing indigenous microenterprises, she served as Special Advisor to the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Commissioner for Abia State in 2020 where she is led a redesign of the state’s industrialization strategy. As an Orrick Fellow she studied Chinese involvement in Nigeria’s shoe manufacturing industry where she examined the role of foreign direct investment and knowledge transfer in facilitating local development. Presently, she working with the US Federal Reserve on a big data investigation of financial transactions in Nigeria. Aisha earned a bachelor of science in International Business and Business Economics from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She holds two masters in Chinese Studies and International Relations from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and Harvard University, respectively. Aisha speaks Mandarin and has a forthcoming publication with Palgrave on Africa’s economic sectors. Research Areas of Engagement at CSEA: Human Capital Development; Poverty Reduction and Inclusive Growth; Trade and Investment; Macroeconomics and Public
Financial Management