The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) in partnership with NOIPolls and the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), launched the Nigeria Economic Diplomacy Discourse (NEDD). The event was held on March 13, 2024, at the CSEA Conference Room in Abuja.

The event consisted of three presentations led by Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena, Executive Director, CSEA who introduced the NEDD framework; Dr. Chike Nwangwu, Chief Executive Officer, NOIPolls, explained Perception Polls and Professor Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, President, AUST, gave an overview of Trade policy and Economic diplomacy.

The presentations shed light on the critical role of economic diplomacy in driving global prosperity.

The panel session provided an opportunity to reflect on the recently launched trade policy and how it will impact Nigeria. Led by Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, President, Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation (IGET) and Amb. Elijah Onyeagba, Former Nigerian Ambassador to Burundi, the exchange of ideas offered valuable insights, contributing to a deeper understanding of economic dynamics and diplomatic relations in Nigeria and beyond.

The highlight of the event was the Fireside chat themed “Reflection on 2024 WTO Ministerial” featuring Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General, World Trade Organization (WTO).

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala discussed the effectiveness of international economic diplomacy in over 70 countries and noted the challenges of attracting others. She explained that the WTO had extended the period by two years, after which the window for trade policies would be closed.

Dr. Adedeji Adeniran, Director of Research, CSEA provided the closing remarks and extended well wishes to the Heads of Missions and representatives of the embassies of Brazil, India, Germany, Czech Republic, China, Sweden, Burundi, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland, and South Africa and other high-level participants who actively engaged in the event.

The NEDD launch is expected to pave the way for collaborative solutions and meaningful engagements in fostering trade relations and sustainable growth.

The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), is organising a sensitization workshop titled “Understanding New Nigerian Labour Force Statistics".

The workshop aims to acquaint stakeholders, including government officials, the private sector, civil society organizations, and the public with the most recent Nigerian Labour Force Statistics and its implications for policy and programme development. 

The event will also equip participants with the right tools and skills to interpret, visualise and analyse labour force data for data-driven and evidence-based decision-making.

DATE: Monday, 18 March, 2024
TIME:  9:00am WAT

In today's fast-paced world, access to accurate and timely data is crucial for effective governance and decision-making. Policymakers often struggle to access the data they need to make informed decisions and serve the public effectively. The problem lies not in the lack of available data but in its inaccessibility. Unfortunately, many government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in African countries face challenges when it comes to sharing and integrating data. This lack of data interoperability hampers collaboration, slows down processes, and prevents the delivery of efficient public services.

In furtherance of our work on tobacco control in Africa, we are pleased to announce that CSEA has been selected as the Tobacco Control Data Initiative's (TCDI 2.0) sustainability partner. The TCDI platform enhances access to country-specific data, enabling better tobacco control policy planning and execution across Africa.

As part of our onboarding process, we hosted representatives from the Development Gateway, Winnie Awuor (Program Manager, TCDI) and Seember Ali (Country Lead for Nigeria, TCDI), for an informative introduction to the TCDI 2.0 program at the CSEA office in Abuja, Nigeria, on Monday, 19 February 2024.

Following this meeting, the Development Gateway organised a kick-off workshop last at the Marriot Hotel in Lagos. The meeting provided a platform for both teams to exchange knowledge and set the direction for the project expectation over the next four years. The meeting also featured capacity building sessions and presentations from different country leads on research methods, media and tobacco control and much more.

 We are excited about the prospects of this initiative, and we look forward to collaborating with key actors in the tobacco control sector, including government and non-governmental health organizations, advocacy groups, and the media, among others, to achieve the program's objectives.

Learn more about the TCDI 2.0 here

This policy brief aims to outline the key considerations for developing artificial intelligence (AI) governance frameworks that promote transparency, accountability and confidence in AI systems across the African continent. AI is gaining some traction in African countries, as a means to drive socio-
economic development. Countries are recognising the potential of AI and as a result, are investing in research, innovation, and infrastructure to foster its growth.