African Economic Scholars Program (AESP)

We extend our warmest congratulations to Adebayo Abdulrahman of the University of Ibadan for clinching the best debater award at the recently concluded 2024 AESP scholars debate. Adebayo provided an elaborate analysis, commanded strong vocal variety, and persuasively dished out his arguments, convincing the judges that he deserves the award. Congratulations Adebayo Abdulrahman. We are proud of you!

We are wrapping up the 2024 program with a special session by our founder, Great O. Nnamani. This session will be enlightening scholars on skills that will enable them to thrive in the workplace. The past 9 weeks have been nothing short of insightful and we are delighted to conclude the 2024 program in 2 weeks. Keep an eye on our social media pages to be abreast. Application for national policy challenge is still open. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/dA7tNP7T

10 days to deadline! It doesn't matter how slow you have been with your application. You can still do it. Shoot now: https://lnkd.in/dA7tNP7T

Last week, we had a thrilling time at the 2024 AESP scholars policy debate. The debate, which followed the British parliamentary style, had our scholars all on their toes dishing out and defending their points. We extend a big shout out to all the scholars who represented their teams: Christopher Delali Dzeney, ifechukwu munachiso, Ganiy Elegbede, Joseph Njaramba, Arafat Tijani, Peter Karisa Mwamburi, Adebayo Abdulrahman, and Pepsitemi S. We are super proud of you all. A big congratulations to the opposition team and Adebayo Abdulrahman for emerging the best debater. We also send our deep appreciation, once again, to Yahaya Alphonse for gracing the debate with his presence. Applications for the National Policy Challenge is still on. Apply now https://lnkd.in/dA7tNP7T

This week, we are delighted to have Yahaya Alphonse as our guest at the 2024 AESP scholars debate. Yahaya is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Municipal Affairs and Housing, Canada and holds a masters in Political Science from the University of Windsor. We are excited to have Mr. Yahaya adjudicate the debate and look forward to the insights he will be sharing. Application for the AESP National Policy Challenge is still on. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/dA7tNP7T

The AESP policy debate is a key aspect of our scholars program. This year, our scholars will be debating on the topic "Africa 2063: Visionary Blueprint or Pipe Dream?" Is the Africa 2063 agenda a bold, transformative roadmap to a prosperous future, or is it an ambitious vision that might remain out of reach? The Africa 2063 agenda envisions a continent thriving with unity, prosperity, and innovation by the year 2063. But is this ambitious plan a feasible blueprint for a brighter future, or are we looking at a pipe dream? It is going to be an insightful conversation with our scholars this week. All eyes on the best debater and winning team. Application for the AESP National Policy Challenge is still on. Apply now: https://lnkd.in/dA7tNP7T

With less than 20 days left until the deadline, don't let your application spill over into the next month. Apply for the 2024 National Policy Challenge now: https://lnkd.in/dA7tNP7T

Ever wondered how much public policy truly impacts our daily lives? While we often focus on individual choices, Amy Hanauer’s talk sheds light on how the rules and regulations we live under shape everything—from the air we breathe to the opportunities available to our children. Imagine a tiny change in policy that increases financial aid for students or a slight increase in public transportation funding that makes commutes easier. These small shifts can have monumental impacts, changing lives and communities in ways we often overlook. Amy argues that while individual actions are valuable, it’s collective action—fueled by thoughtful policies—that creates lasting change. She shares powerful examples, like how a congestion fee in London reduced traffic by 30% and how different policies across countries make a poverty-wage job in one place a middle-class job in another. She also highlights the critical role policies play in areas like the environment, education, and criminal justice. In a world where we're encouraged to believe in the power of individual action, Amy’s insights remind us that real, sustainable change often requires a collective push—one that starts with understanding and influencing the policies that govern our lives. If you’re curious about how you can make a difference, start by asking the right questions: Why are things the way they are? And how can we, as a community, push for policies that lead to better outcomes for all? Check out this inspiring snippet from her talk and reflect on the power we have to shape our world through policy. #publicpolicy #collectiveaction #changemakers #policymatters You can watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/d_TzVq8m

Last week, we had the privilege of receiving the tutelage of Mma Amara Ekeruche. Mma's session covered understanding the intricacies of policy analysis especially as it relates to "what", "when?", 'how?' and "why?" She also took the scholars on a policy brief writing journey, including the types of policy briefs and the different structures. We are happy to have Mma for the second time and look forward to having her again next year. Thank you for your commitment and the insights shared, Mma.

This week, we are delighted to have Mma Amara Ekeruche, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) take the scholars on a very important session. Mma holds a Master’s in Economic Policy from University College London (UCL), United Kingdom and a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. Her research interests are public finance and debt management, domestic resource mobilization, and macroeconomic management. Consequently, her research experience cuts across key issues in development including public debt, South-South Cooperation, and the impact of Chinese investment in Africa. She is an IMF Youth fellow and a columnist on Stears Inc. We are very excited and look forward to her session.