The Politics of Inequality – DLP Annual Conference 2015

On Thursday 12 February, the Development Leadership Programme (DLP) held its 2015 Annual Conference on the theme of the politics of inequality, at the University of Birmingham. I presented parts of my doctoral research as a panelist in the session on “Inequality and Political Settlements”. With a resurgence in academic, policy and media interest in inequalities … More The Politics of Inequality – DLP Annual Conference 2015

Africa’s Oil Shock

This is an opinion piece I recently wrote for Aljazeera English, analysing how African countries are responding to falling global crude oil prices. I reproduce it below: The plummeting of global crude prices is generating ripple effects worldwide. While oil exporters are reeling from plunging revenues, oil importers are bracing for cheaper oil, and the … More Africa’s Oil Shock

Legatum Institute’s Africa Prosperity Index 2014

The researchers at Legatum Institute, a public policy think-tank, were kind enough to invite me to the launch of their inaugural Africa Prosperity Index several days ago, at their headquarters in Mayfair London. The keynote speakers were Richard Dowden, Director of the Royal African Society and Marieme Jamme, CEO of Spot One Global Solutions and … More Legatum Institute’s Africa Prosperity Index 2014

Maryam Writes About Her Experience at Obama’s Fellowship for Young African Leaders

Maryam Shehu Mohammed is one of the 500 young leaders selected from around Africa, to participate in President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative in the U.S. She recently returned to Nigeria after the completion of her program. Maryam wrote about her experience through the entire process, from application to completion of the fellowship. Her piece … More Maryam Writes About Her Experience at Obama’s Fellowship for Young African Leaders

Obama’s Africa Summit: Too Little, Too Late?

This is an op-ed I wrote for Aljazeera English, on the recent U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. In 2013, I was in the audience at the Oxford Union for a taping of Al Jazeera’s Head to Head featuring Thomas Friedman and his thoughts on US Foreign Policy. The show’s focus was entirely focused on the Middle East, and the United States’ … More Obama’s Africa Summit: Too Little, Too Late?

The World Bank (Africa) Fellowship for PhD Students

Culled from the World Bank: “The Africa Region of the World Bank Group is launching the World Bank Group Fellowship Program for Ph.D. students of African descent. The program will increase the diverse workforce that is a priority for the Bank and its clients. The Fellowship Program aims to build a pipeline of researchers and … More The World Bank (Africa) Fellowship for PhD Students

Morten Jerven’s “Poor Numbers” and Improving Statistical Capacity in African Countries

I don’t know about you but in the recent past, I had thought the debates in international development in this century had become rather stale. We had moved from Africa the “Hopeless Continent“, “Africa’s Growth Tragedy“, the continent of the “Bottom Billion” and the Trade vs. “Dead Aid” debate, to “Africa is Rising”, Africa “the … More Morten Jerven’s “Poor Numbers” and Improving Statistical Capacity in African Countries