The International Trade Centre (ITC) hosted a five-day workshop on Agri-Trade Data Analysis for Policy Decision Making from March 24–28, 2025, at The Envoy Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria. CSEA researchers Dr. Oluwatosin Edafe (Research Fellow), Anthony Okon, and Anthony Bisong (Research Associates) participated in the event.

The workshop provided participants with insights into the tools and methodologies developed by the International Trade Centre (ITC) for analyzing the export potential of agricultural products under the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade (EAT) Programme. The EAT Programme aims to strengthen the organizational capacity, technical expertise, service offerings, and analytical tools of regional and national organizations, thereby improving their ability to understand and manage agri-food policies and services throughout the ECOWAS region.

Key discussions during the workshop focused on the application of ITC tools for policy decision-making, the presentation of the Analytical Report on the Informal Cross-Border Agri-Trade Database in West Africa (ECO-ICBT), a demonstration of ITC’s dashboard for visualizing informal cross-border trade data, and a training session on the significance and implications of using ECO-ICBT data.

CSEA's participation demonstrates its commitment to research-driven policy engagement and regional economic development.

The Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget on March 13, 2025, launched the 2025 Lagos Economic Development Update, an annual publication by the Economic Intelligence Department (EID) of the state's ministry.

The report led by Dr. Abdulfatai Adedeji, a Senior Public Sector Economist and Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) provides an in-depth analysis of Lagos’ macroeconomic performance, fiscal sustainability, revenue mobilization, labor market trends, and emerging risks.

Lagos State ranks as Africa’s second-largest city economy, with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reaching $259.75 billion, based on purchasing power parity, making it the second-largest city economy in Africa after Cairo.  The report also highlights the steady economic growth of the state, with its GDP rising from ₦19.65 trillion in 2023 to ₦27.38 trillion in the first half of 2024.

However, despite its status as Nigeria’s economic hub, Lagos has a low tax-to-GDP ratio of 2.8%, significantly below the national average of 7.9%. This underscores the state’s untapped revenue potential and the need for improved tax mobilization.

Read the full report here- https://lagosmepb.org/lagos-economic-development-update/

CSEA participated in the annual coordination meeting and retreat of the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Control Division of the Federal Ministry of Health, alongside other key stakeholders, to discuss their 2025 work plan from March 11 to 14, 2025.

Representing CSEA, Halima Abdulrazaq, a researcher, delivered a presentation on the impact of tobacco use on NCDs. Drawing insights from the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI) dashboard, she demonstrated how the platform can equip policymakers and advocates with accessible, data-driven insights to support evidence-based decisions aimed at reducing the burden of tobacco-related NCDs.

In 2025, our goal is to continue providing tobacco control actors with updated data and information while strengthening engagement with stakeholders to assess their needs and address them effectively.

The Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Alliance, in collaboration with the Rwanda NCD Alliance, organized the 4th Global NCD Alliance Forum, themed "Leadership on NCDs Towards 2025 & Beyond." It was held in Kigali, Rwanda, from February 13 to 15, 2025. The forum brought together over 650 participants from across the NCD community to promote advocacy activities in advance of the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs. The discussions focused on strengthening leadership, organizing sustainable financing, and increasing grassroots advocacy to address the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Fidelis Obaniyi, CSEA's Research Associate, participated actively in the sessions contributing to conversations about critical NCD-related challenges and solutions. Some of the challenges raised include: Priority interventions for reducing the burden of chronic lung disease and other tobacco-related health problems. The Role of Law and Data in Implementing NCD Best Buys, Civil Society-Led Advocacy for Prioritizing Domestic Resource Mobilization, and Youth Leading the Way on NCDs.

The forum also provided a platform for the participants to exchange knowledge, collaborative action, support efforts to improve effective NCD policies, resource allocation, public health initiatives and gain unique insights into evidence-based advocacy, health policy implementation, and community-driven initiatives to improve NCD outcomes. CSEA’s participation in the 4th Global NCD Alliance Forum reaffirms its dedication to advance NCD policy, promote sustainable health policies and improve public health outcomes in Africa.

The Nigerian Economic Society launched its 2025 economic outlook report on February 12, 2025. The event brought together stakeholders, including policymakers, economists, and industry leaders, to discuss strategies for long-term growth, sustainability, and revenue diversification for the Nigerian economy. 

Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, CSEA's Executive Director, participated as a panelist during the discussion session titled "Navigating Reform Headwinds for Long-Term Growth and Sustainability in 2025 and Beyond." The discussions steered knowledge exchange on socioeconomic challenges, critical economic trends, the need for collaborative and structural reforms, evidence-based policymaking to drive long-term stability, and strategic policy interventions.