News & Events

A delegation from the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), led by the Executive Director Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, paid a courtesy visit to the Mexican Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, on January 27, 2026. The delegation included Dr. Iliyasu Jamilu, (Post doctoral Research Fellow), Anthony Bisong (Research Associate), and Gift Ojima (Communications Officer). The team engaged  with the Mexican Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Alfredo Miranda Ortiz, and the Deputy Head of Mission, José Manuel Briseño Flores.

The meeting focused on advancing research-led solutions to shared socio-economic challenges, highlighting the  developmental similarities between Nigeria and Mexico as a basis for bilateral knowledge exchange and joint policy initiatives. During the discussions, CSEA introduced the Nigeria Economic Diplomacy Discourse, a strategic platform designed to foster collaboration between the diplomatic community and policymakers. 

A key outcome of the visit was the proposal to launch a sensitisation programme for Nigerian exporters, aimed at equipping them with the regulatory and logistical knowledge required to access the Mexican market.

On January 26, 2026, the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. The Centre was represented by the Executive Director, Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, alongside Anthony Okon, Research Fellow, Anthony Bisong, Research Associate, and Gift Ojima, Communications Officer. The visit aimed to express the Centre’s appreciation for the Embassy's participation in the Fireside Chat themed "Re-shaping Nigeria’s Potential in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI)," jointly convened by CSEA and the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology (FMIST), Dr. Kingsley Udeh, SAN, in December 2025. 
The engagement also provided an opportunity  to discuss potential areas for collaboration, focusing on mutual interests such as economic policy research, trade and investment, development finance, regional integration, and knowledge exchange. A key outcome of the meeting was the proposal to convene a dialogue event to discuss China’s proposed zero tariff policy for African countries

The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST), hosted a fireside chat with the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, SAN, titled “Re-Shaping Nigeria’s Potential in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI).” The event was held on 15 December 2025 at the CSEA Conference Hall, Abuja, and convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from academia, government, civil society, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and the media.

The dialogue provided a platform for stakeholders to gain insights into the Ministry’s strategic priorities, explore opportunities for collaboration, and discuss the risks and dependencies shaping the implementation of Nigeria’s STI agenda. The fireside chat was moderated by Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, Executive Director of CSEA, where discussions centred on how Nigeria can harness its youthful population, natural resources, and strategic advantages to accelerate progress in science, technology, and innovation for sustainable national development. The session  enabled participants to engage directly with the Minister on his vision and priorities for advancing STI in Nigeria, while exploring evidence-based recommendations to support policy formulation and implementation.

The event closed  with closing remarks by Dr. Adedeji Adeniran, Director of Research at CSEA, who underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in driving Nigeria’s STI ambitions. He also reaffirmed CSEA’s commitment to fostering informed dialogue that supports evidence based policymaking and innovation led development.

The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), conducted a series of training sessions for facilitators and enumerators engaged in data collection for the Gender and Responsible Artificial Intelligence Network (GRAIN) Education Project. The training, led by Anthony Okon and Obiageli Ekwunwa, were held across Oyo and Enugu, focusing on strengthening participants’ capacity in research methodologies, ethical standards, and effective data collection using surveys and focus group discussions (FGDs).

The first training  took place from November 10–11, 2025, at Cocoa House in Oyo State. During this session, participants were introduced to  the project’s background, rationale, geographic scope, and expected deliverables. This was followed by technical sessions which covered research design, ethical considerations, and mixed-method data collection approaches. Participants gained practical knowledge of administering surveys and conducting FGDs, equipping them to lead fieldwork and contribute to generating high-quality evidence to inform gender-inclusive education policies.

The second training , held from November 13–14, 2025, at Roban Hotel in Enugu state, provided a deeper hands-on experience with survey and FGD tools. Participants reviewed and refined the instruments, and also translated questions and defined roles such as note-taking. Practical exercises included a field test of the survey using SurveyCTO software and mock FGD sessions, followed by debriefings to incorporate observations from the pilot exercises.

Overall, the training successfully strengthened participants’ competencies, resulting in improved data collection instruments, increased ethical awareness, and practical field experience. The piloting and refinement of tools marked significant steps toward ensuring reliable and gender-sensitive data for the GRAIN Education Project.

The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) is pleased to announce that CSEA has officially taken over as sustainability partner for  the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI) from Development Gateway: An IREX Venture (DG), following the successful completion of the Mentorship phase (Years 1 and 2) of the programme. 

The TCDI Dashboard supports governments, civil society, and academia with access to quality, timely, and validated,  data to inform the design and implementation of more evidence-based tobacco control policies across Africa. The initiative is being implemented in seven countries: Nigeria, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal, across sub–Saharan Africa.

CSEA’s Role as Sustainability Partner of Expansion Phase (Year 3 and 4)

In its new role, CSEA will leverage already established networks and  expertise of partner organisations across TCDI countries to strengthen national ownership, stakeholder coordination, and long-term uptake of the Dashboard. This will  include facilitating structured engagement with national governments and key actors in tobacco control, supporting clear and consistent communication, and enabling collaboration that sustains the programme’s relevance and impact beyond implementation cycles.

Throughout this expansion phase, DG will support CSEA in drawing upon the successful approaches used in TCDI 1.0, specifically by guiding CSEA in employing a user-centered approach in which stakeholders are at the heart of website development. This user-centered approach will ensure that the data on the new TCDI website meets the stakeholders’ needs and improves users’ interaction with the platform. In this phase, CSEA will also conduct the second round of prevalence spot checks.

CSEA, in collaboration with Development Gateway (DG), recently held  a four-day TCDI Workshop held in Lagos from December 2 to 5, 2025, bringing together programme team members to review progress and align  priorities for Year 3 (2026).The workshop focused on  reflections on Year two  achievements, onboarding for newer team members, and clarification of roles and workplans for the year ahead. 

Looking Ahead

With CSEA serving as Sustainability Partner, the TCDI Dashboard is positioned to reflect deepened country level engagement  while strengthening pathways for evidence-based tobacco control across participating countries. CSEA will continue working with DG and country stakeholders to support effective coordination, broaden awareness and use of the Dashboard, and reinforce institutional partnerships that drive sustained policy impact.