News & Events

The Associates for Change (AFC), the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), and the Centre d’Etudes de Recherches et de Formation pour le Développement Economique et Social (CERFODES) convened a five-day cross-country and partner meeting on Education in Emergencies (EiE) from 16th to 20th February 2026 in Accra, Ghana. The project is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX).
The meeting provided a collaborative platform for country teams to present key findings from their foundational research, comprehensive reviews, and situational analyses under the theme: “Advancing Educational Solutions: Research for Scaling Education Innovations in Emergencies and Fragile, Conflict, and Violence-Affected Areas of Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Nigeria.”
The workshop convened key stakeholders and regional partners to facilitate in-depth discussions on the research findings and their practical implications. Participants examined how these insights can inform more responsive, context-specific, and scalable education interventions in fragile and crisis-affected settings.
The discussions also helped bridge the gap between immediate emergency education responses and the strategic planning required for the project’s second phase, strengthening regional collaboration and shared learning across the three countries.
 

On February 11, 2026, the macroeconomic team of the World Bank Group engaged with  representatives of the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) to review previous collaboration and explore opportunities for further partnerships. CSEA delivered a presentation on its work under the Research on Improving Systems of Education (RISE) Programme, highlighting the programme’s objectives and key outcomes. 
The presentation emphasized the programme’s contributions to strengthening education systems through research-based analysis and policy engagement, with particular focus on improving learning outcomes, enhancing institutional frameworks, and promoting evidence-based reforms in the education sector. The discussion also highlighted  the broader relevance of these findings for economic development, particularly in relation to human capital development and long-term growth.

The World Bank team expressed interest in hosting its next National Development Update presentation at CSEA’s facilities, recognising the Centre’s role as a hub for policy dialogue and knowledge exchange. Both parties underscored the importance of strengthening future collaboration in research, policy analysis, and capacity-building initiatives to support evidence-based policymaking.
 

CSEA conducted a four-day Financial Management Workshop for its management staff in Abuja from 16th to 19th February 2026, with support from Development Gateway. The training underscored the Centre’s commitment to strong governance, accountability, and long-term sustainability. It brought together members of the management team, alongside representatives from the research, communications, programmes, accounts, and admin departments, highlighting that sound financial management is a shared responsibility across the organisation.
The workshop was facilitated by Hilda Hakiza of Nonprofit Builder and focused on practical aspects of financial management, including budgeting, financial reporting, internal controls, risk management, and sustainability planning. Through interactive sessions, participants strengthened their understanding of activity-based budgeting, cost allocation, donor compliance requirements, and financial monitoring.
Discussions also covered ways to improve internal control systems and better manage financial and operational risks. The sessions encouraged closer coordination between programme and finance teams to ensure that planning and implementation remain aligned with available resources.
Andrea Ulrich, Deputy Director of Programs at Development Gateway, joined the workshop, demonstrating continued support for CSEA’s capacity strengthening efforts. The training concluded with a renewed focus on financial sustainability, including strategies to diversify funding and strengthen long-term financial planning in support of CSEA’s research work.
 

The Executive Director, Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, alongside Anthony Okon, Research Fellow and Gift Ojima, Communications Officer, paid a courtesy visit to the German Embassy in Abuja on  February 19, 2026. The meeting served as a high-level platform to introduce CSEA’s current research agenda to the German mission, align the Centre’s research priorities with the Embassy’s diplomatic and development objectives, and identify strategic intersection points for bilateral cooperation in economic and social development. Discussions with the Deputy Head of Mission laid the groundwork for future institutional support and collaborative projects that align with German development priorities in Nigeria.

On Friday, 13 February 2026, a delegation from the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) paid a courtesy visit to  His Excellency Mr. Rodolf Estimé Lekogo, Gabonese High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria to foster bilateral relations and explore research synergies. The CSEA team was led by the Executive Director, Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena,  and included Anthony Okon, Research Fellow, Anthony Bisong, Research Associate, and Gift Ojima, Communications Officer.

The meeting focused on identifying areas of alignment  between CSEA’s research agenda and the Embassy’s strategic goals. A key outcome of the visit was the Embassy's interest in Nigeria-Gabon Blue Economy research. This represents a niche opportunity for CSEA to lead data-driven discussions on maritime resource management, sustainable fishing, and coastal trade between the two nations.