News & Events

CSEA Research Fellow, Dr. Adamu Ahmed Wudil, delivered an international guest lecture on 7
May 2026 at the Department of Development Economics, Faculty of Economics and
Business, Universitas Negeri Malang (FEB UM), Indonesia. The lecture explored
the role of Islamic finance and financial education in advancing financial
inclusion, with a focus on Nigeria.


Dr. Wudil highlighted how limited financial literacy and low awareness of Islamic
financial products continue to hinder access to financial services,
particularly for households and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises
(MSMEs). He also discussed the potential of Islamic banking, sukuk, and takaful
to expand access to ethical and inclusive financing while supporting
sustainable economic development.


The lecture fostered cross-country dialogue on evidence-based approaches to financial
inclusion and aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and
Economic Growth), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The engagement also
reflects CSEA's commitment to international research collaboration. Dr. Wudil
is currently a postdoctoral fellow under the EQUITY Programme at Universitas
Negeri Malang.

The Africa Tobacco Control Core Partners Biannual Coordination meeting was held in Windhoek, Namibia, on April 14 -15, 2026, bringing together key regional partners to strengthen tobacco control across Africa.

The Tobacco Control data Initiative (TCDI) was represented by CSEA’s Director of Research, Dr. Adedeji Adeniran, and TCDI’s programme manager, Tochukwu Okereke, at the high-level discussions with partners including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The discussions centered on strengthening  tobacco control measures, aligning approaches to reduce tobacco use and its associated health impacts, and addressing how tobacco companies continue to target African markets. A major highlight was the announcement by Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Health, Susan Ndjaleka, that the country is amending the Tobacco Products Control Act to better regulate vaping and other new nicotine products. The meeting convened various participants, including health partners, to support coordinated action and strengthen regulatory responses across the region.

Photos:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ASALahPYoynev84oY4gONJFi-iJzAXD6?usp=drive_link

The Global Value Chains (GVCs) for Developing Countries seminar in Beijing, China, was held from April 1–14,  2026. The programme was convened  by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO), a key capacity-building institution under China’s Ministry of Commerce. It blended technical lectures, institutional engagements, field visits, and cultural tours, providing both analytical insights and practical exposure to China’s development trajectory, industrialization, and value chain integration approaches. The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa was represented by Bisong Anthony Ekpang.

The seminar sessions, held  at AIBO in Beijing, covered a wide range of topics, including China’s modernization and governance philosophy, the Belt and Road Initiative, emerging trends in global value chains and opportunities for developing countries, industrial upgrading, industrial policy and export-led development, and trade and investment integration. A major component of the programme also featured  on-site learning and a study tour to Jinan in Shandong Province.

Participants engaged  in structured business networking sessions with Chinese firms and international counterparts, supporting exchanges on market access and trade barriers and strengthening linkages for future research and policy dialogue. Cultural visits across Beijing and Jinan, alongside engagement with AIBO leadership, including Wu Hao, reinforced the seminar’s development insights. Overall, the lessons gained align with CSEA priorities, particularly in advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area  (AfCFTA), promoting regional integration, strengthening industrial policy design, enhancing SME competitiveness, and supporting evidence-based policymaking. The engagement also  opens opportunities for continued collaboration in training, policy dialogue, and knowledge exchange.

Photos:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nOhZhYR30y85E-lf-WjL5gWIoOpp6s02?usp=drive_link

The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) participated in the Nigeria Economic Society (NES) 2026 Economic Outlook unveiling, held on March 31, 2026, in Abuja. The event convened key stakeholders, policymakers, members of the diplomatic community, and economic experts to examine Nigeria’s economic trajectory and provide insights into emerging challenges and opportunities for the year.
A major highlight of the event was the fireside chat headlined by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, CSEA’s founder and Director-General of the World Trade Organization. In an engaging and insightful session, she responded to a wide range of questions on global trade dynamics, outlining both the challenges and opportunities for Africa. She spoke on the ongoing disruption of international trade systems, emphasising the growing prominence of services trade over goods trade. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala also underscored the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key driver of intra-African trade, economic integration, and long-term development across the continent.
The event also featured a panel discussion with five distinguished speakers, including CSEA’s Executive Director, Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena. During the session, he provided critical insights into Nigeria’s recent economic reforms, particularly the unification of the exchange rate and its implications. He further addressed the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and examined how external factors, such as conflicts in the Middle East, continue to shape Nigeria’s economic stability through their impact on energy prices and global supply chains
 

On the 31st of March, 2026, the Lagos State Government officially launched the third edition of the Lagos Economic Development Update (LEDU), themed “Lagos Economic Outlook 2026: Consolidating Resilience, Advancing Competitiveness, Delivering Shared Prosperity”. The event, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, reinforced Lagos’ position as a leading sub-national actor in leveraging data and analyses to inform  economic policy.
The LEDU report provides  a comprehensive  assessment of the state’s macroeconomic performance, fiscal sustainability, structural shifts, and policy priorities, providing a critical evidence base for strategic decision-making. The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) played a key role in this milestone, highlighting  the importance  of robust sub-national evidence systems in shaping Nigeria’s development trajectory.
CSEA was represented at this event by its Director of Research, Dr. Adedeji Adeniran, who served  as a panelist, alongside Dr. Abdulfatai Adedeji, (research fellow), who presented the third edition of the  LEDU report.