On December 14, 2024, CSEA hosted a special delegation from the State of California, led by Dr. Toks Omishakin, Secretary of Transportation for the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), alongside Dr. Aditya Ramji, University of California Davis Institute of Transportation Technology, and Giles F. Giovinazzi,Senior Advisor, California State Transportation Agency.
The visit aimed to explore potential collaborations in areas such as infrastructure development, economic growth, and the transfer of knowledge and skills, with an emphasis on renewable energy, energy transition, climate change, economic development, and the creative economy.
During the visit, Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, Executive Director of CSEA, and the CSEA team provided valuable insights into the organization's work on climate financing, energy, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA highlighting areas where there may be opportunities for collaboration.
The discussions also focused on fostering partnerships, building capacity, and initiating development projects to further strengthen these areas in Nigeria.
Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena participated in the 2024 Africa Policy Circle Conference, held at Ufulu Gardens in Lilongwe, Malawi, on December 10-11, 2024. The conference, supported by, konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung-Political Dialogue for Sub-Saharan Africa (KAS PolDiSSA), brought together experts and stakeholders from across the continent to discuss the opportunities and challenges under the theme ‘South Africa G20 Presidency: Steering Digital Rights, Inclusion, and Anti-Corruption Efforts’.
As South Africa takes on the G20 Presidency, the conference recognized the significance of this moment for Africa. With the African Union now included in the G20, there is a unique opportunity to amplify African voices and advocate for the continent's collective interests.
The event featured several sessions of meaningful discussions and knowledge-sharing aimed at promoting digital rights inclusion, combating corruption, and fostering a more equitable and sustainable development trajectory for Africa.
In 2024, the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), collaborated with On Think Tanks on the State of the Sector 2024 Report, which offers an in-depth analysis of the global think tank landscape. Drawing from the perspectives of nearly 300 organizations across 95 countries, the report provides valuable insights into the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping think tanks worldwide.
The report examines five key dimensions influencing the sector: i) The diverse think tank landscape across regions ; ii) Varied political contexts influencing operations ; iii) Major divides in funding models iv) Research priorities focused on policy and governance and v) Emerging challenges in capacity, tech adoption, and AI .
CSEA contributed to this year’s report, offering regional insights that add depth to the global analysis.
Explore the full report: http://onthinktanks.org/SOS2024
CSEA hosted a two-day workshop on Data protection and Privacy, in partnership with NDPC Nigeria, Baze University and African University of Science and Technology on 23-24 July 2024 at the CSEA conference hall, Abuja. The workshop featured training on the fundamentals of data privacy and protection, cybersecurity and data governance in Africa. It also convened experts and stakeholders who discussed key issues like; digitalization, how AFCFTA can support data governance and strategies for leveraging data governance to boost development in Nigeria and Africa.
On August 30, 2024, CSEA, represented by Dr. Adedeji Adeniran and Adaora Ofodum, participated in a stakeholder validation meeting for the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI 2.0). This meeting, held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, was in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The purpose of the gathering was to review the TCDI initiatives and discuss the incorporation of new themes into the DRC dashboard. Patrice Milambo, Director of the national program to combat drug addiction and toxic substances from the MOH, delivered the opening remarks, while Patrick Shamba Bakengela PhD, DG Country Lead in DRC, provided an introduction outlining the objectives of TCDI 1.0 and 2.0.
Dr. Adeniran gave an overview of CSEA and its role in TCDI 2.0, while Adaora outlined CSEA's responsibilities and expectations as a sustainability partner for the initiative. By the end of the meeting, two new themes were selected for the dashboard: “Prevention and Awareness” and “Shisha and New Products”.