News & Events

CSEA was represented by Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, Executive Director, and Dr. Adedeji Adeniran, Director of Research, at the second edition of the Africa Sandboxes for AI Co-Creation Lab. The event, organized by the DataSphere Initiative, was held alongside the 8th Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RAPDP) Conference, a key platform for advancing data protection and privacy in Africa, on May 6-8, 2025, in Abuja.

Focusing on FinTech innovation and cross-border digital trade, the Lab highlighted how regulatory sandboxes can enable trusted data flows, foster policy harmonization, and drive innovation across African markets.

The CSEA team also held discussions with Morine Amutorine, Africa Sandboxes Forum Lead at the DataSphere Initiative, on strengthening collaboration in data governance and AI, reinforcing CSEA’s commitment to promoting effective data policy for socio-economic development.

The 8th NADPA-RAPDP Conference convened regulators, policymakers, and experts to explore emerging trends in AI, FinTech, and data governance across the continent.

Dr. Oluwatosin Edafe, CSEA's Research Fellow, served as a resource person at the National Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax Coalition Media Training, which took place in Lagos on May 5-6, 2025. The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) organised the program, which brought together stakeholders from civil societies, the media, public health, and policymakers to promote strategic communication about SSB taxes and noncommunicable disease prevention. 

In her session, she provided a data-rich presentation titled "Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax as a Preventive Tool for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)," emphasising that the SSB tax is beyond a revenue tool; it is also a strategic health intervention. The presentation highlighted the rising health and economic burden of sugary drink consumption in Nigeria, utilising both global and local statistics to demonstrate the effectiveness of SSB taxes in reducing consumption and the prevalence of NCDs. 

Through her insightful facilitation and presentation, the training program provided advocates, media professionals, and policymakers with evidence to bring about significant change, advancing CSEA's purpose of translating research into policy

The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), led by CSEA’s Director of Research Dr. Adedeji Adeniran, Research Fellow, Dr. Adamu Ahmed Wudil, and Head of Communications, Drusilla David, paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, to introduce the Centre’s GPE-KIX-supported research project, Advancing Education Solutions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Areas, underway in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Nigeria.

The project evaluates scalable education innovations—such as the Accelerated Education Programme (AEP), Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL), and Girls for Girls (G4G)—to improve access and retention for learners in crisis settings.

The visit also aimed to secure the Ministry’s collaboration on an upcoming AEP stakeholder engagement, and to highlight the role of government in integrating these innovations into national policies and disaster risk strategies. Discussions also covered the proposed AEP Policy Learning Working Group (PLWG) and potential alignment with the Ministry’s LUMINAH 2030 Girl Child Initiative, coordinated by  Dr. Mufida Bello Hussain, Special Adviser to the Minister on Education and Quality Assurance.

The University of Chicago, in partnership with the World Bank, the Institute for Economic Development, and the Economic Research Forum of Egypt, co-hosted the Growth Academy for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), from April 30 to May 2, 2025. The three-day workshop focused on data-driven , practical approaches to enhancing productivity in middle-income countries across the  region.

Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, Executive Director at the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), joined  the  Academy, alongside policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners from across MENA. The event served as a platform to explore strategies for accelerating economic growth and addressing the challenges of the middle-income trap.

Participants engaged in interactive sessions with global experts and regional policymakers, sharing insights, evidence, and policy solutions tailored to the region’s  development needs. The workshop  concluded with a hands-on session on modeling long-term growth in developing countries, where  participants developed and  simulated country-specific growth scenarios. 

CSEA’s participation highlights its strong focus on evidence-based policymaking and commitment to fostering regional collaboration aimed at advancing sustainable economic development in  Africa and the broader Global South.

The International Network on African Energy Transition (INAET), in partnership with Eni, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Luiss School of Government, hosted a two-day energy conference in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 8-9, 2025. Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, Executive Director of CSEA, attended the event alongside researchers, policymakers, energy experts, and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond.

The program centred on developing paths to a more reliable, affordable, and clean energy future for the continent, emphasising collaboration between public and private sector actors. The conference provided an opportunity to elevate Africa's voice in the global energy discourse and create practical recommendations for decision-makers.

At the end of the event, participants reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between African and International experts, and emphasized the need to generate actionable insights for stakeholders and policymakers.