News & Events

The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) strengthened its engagement in global economic policy discussions as a co-convenor of the 2026 Africa at the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand. The gathering was hosted and convened by the Nkafu Policy Institute and the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation, bringing together stakeholders to discuss Africa’s economic priorities and development prospects.

Representing CSEA, Executive Director Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena participated in a panel session titled “Africa-Asia Trade and Digital Connectivity,” contributing to discussions on strengthening trade relations and leveraging digital connectivity to expand economic opportunities between Africa and Asia.

A major highlight of the meetings was the recognition of CSEA’s founder, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), with the 2026 Trailblazer for Africa Award on October 14. The award recognises her leadership and contributions to Africa’s economic transformation and development.

For CSEA, these milestones reflect the Centre’s continued role in advancing evidence-informed policy dialogue and strengthening Africa’s voice in global economic conversations. They also highlight the value of bringing research institutions and policymakers together to address the continent’s development priorities.

Award and Recognition

The founder of the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, received the Trailblazer for Africa Award, in recognition of her achievements in global economic leadership, debt relief and development, on the 14th of October, 2026, highlighting Africa’s influence in shaping institutions and policies.

The award was conferred by the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation and the Nkafu Policy Institute, together with their policy partners: PEP - Partnership for Economic Policy, the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa.
 

Following the high-level regional conference on Advancing Educational Solutions for Out-of-School Children in Emergencies and Fragile, Conflict- and Violence-affected Settings, the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) participated in a two-day post-conference workshop in Accra, Ghana, from 1st to -2nd October, 2026.

The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to move from high-level discussions and evidence-sharing towards more practical reflection on the systems, policies, financing mechanisms, and frameworks required to strengthen education responses in emergencies. CSEA was represented by Dr. Adedeji Adeniran (Director of Research) and Tikristini Olawale (Research Associate), who participated in separate thematic sessions addressing critical dimensions of education in emergencies.

Dr. Adedeji participated in the workshop on Innovative Financing for Education Interventions, which examined approaches to mobilise and sustain the financial resources required to support education programmes in emergency and fragile settings. The session highlighted the importance of exploring innovative financing mechanisms and strengthening coordination between government, development partners, donors, and community leaders to close persistent financing gaps.

Tikristini participated in the workshop on the Education in Emergency (EiE) Framework, which focused on strengthening national policies and institutional structures for responding to education disruptions caused by conflict, displacement, and violence. Discussions explored the importance of having coordinated, context-specific, and sustainable frameworks that clearly define roles and responsibilities across governments and other stakeholders.

The post-conference workshops reinforced the importance of continued collaboration among researchers, policymakers, education practitioners, governments, and development partners in translating evidence into effective and scalable solutions for children and young people affected by emergencies in West Africa.

The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) participated in the second high-level regional conference focused on advancing educational solutions for out-of-school children in emergencies, fragile, conflict, and violence-affected (FCV) settings in West Africa. The 2-day event was held in Accra, Ghana, from 29th to  30th September, 2026. 

The conference brought together policymakers, researchers, education practitioners, innovators, development partners, and other key stakeholders from across West Africa to examine evidence, share experiences, and explore scalable approaches to addressing the persistent challenge of out-of-school children in crisis-affected settings.

Representing CSEA at the conference were Dr Adedeji Adeniran (Director of Research) and Tikristini Olawale (Research Associate), who contributed to discussions on the challenges and opportunities for strengthening education systems and expanding access to learning for children affected by conflict, displacement, and other emergencies.

As part of the conference sessions, Dr Adedeji gave a presentation on the ‘Cost of Not Investing in Out-of-School Children and Education in Emergency across West Africa’. The presentation highlighted the consequences of educational exclusion for individuals, communities, and economies and emphasised the need to scale up investments in out-of-school children and youth across West Africa.

This high-level conference is part of the GPE KIX/IDRC funded project on ‘Advancing Education Solutions: Research for Scaling Education Innovations in Emergencies and Fragile, Conflict-and Violence-Affected Areas of Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria’.

The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea convened the Nigeria–Korea Economic Diplomacy Discourse (NEDD) in Abuja, on Tuesday, the 22nd of September, 2026, bringing together government officials, diplomatic representatives, researchers, and private sector leaders, including CSEA Executive Director Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, Korean Ambassador H.E. Ambassador Jeong Yo-an, and PEBEC Director-General Princess Zara Mustafa Audu. 

Themed "Korea–Nigeria Economic Partnership: Practical Frameworks for Trade, Investment, and Fiscal Cooperation," the discourse was held to strengthen bilateral ties, address commercial barriers, and translate 46 years of diplomatic relations into concrete trade and investment outcomes. 

During the event, Korean Economic Attaché Mr. Yonggyu Kwon detailed South Korea’s post-war transformation. Panelists deliberated on key fiscal and operational hurdles, including the unratified Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), foreign exchange volatility, cargo transport costs, and low foreign direct investment relative to portfolio inflows. The discourse emphasized that while diplomatic goodwill is firmly established, rigorous policy execution and regulatory stability are vital to converting strategic concepts into bankable commercial projects. 
           

Last week, CSEA welcomed the Economic Intelligence Department of the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget for a 3-day Technical Study Visit.

Through hands-on workshops on economic modelling, data analytics, cabinet-ready policy design, research communications, and AI integration, our team shared insights to support Lagos State's upcoming strategic planning deliverables.

At CSEA, we remain dedicated to strengthening the capacity of government institutions and advancing evidence-based policy research across Africa.