CSEA participates in NES 2026 Economic Outlook unveiling headlined by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

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