Doing, writing and thinking economic & public policy
Videos
On December 3 2023, I participated in a panel discussion at the U.N. Climate Change Conference COP-28 in Dubai, UAE on n “Public Private Partnerships to Shepherd Investments in Critical Minerals” hosted at the Atlantic Council’s Global Decarbonization Accelerator pavilion.
On November 9, 2023, I participated in this virtual panel discussion on U.S.-South Africa Relations.
On September 27, 2023, I hosted senior U.S. government officials working on Africa policy for a discussion on the status of the implementation of the “U.S. Strategy Towards Sub-Saharan Africa” one year after its launch.
On September 8, 2023, I spoke to Aljazeera English on the African Union’s joining of the G20
The in-country launch of my book, “Economic Diversification in Nigeria: the Politics of Building a Post-Oil Economy” in Abuja, Nigeria on May 9, 2023.
On March 28, 2023, I hosted a discussion on “Will Africa Shape U.S.-China Strategic Competition?”
On February 24, 2023, I made a presentation on the “Politics of Industrialization in Africa” at the Princeton University’s annual “Catalyzing Macroeconomic Policy for Development in Sub-Saharan Africa” conference.
On February 22, 2023, I participated in a panel discussion on “Can the World Bank Address Global Challenges?”
On December 12 2022, I hosted the President of the Republic of Namibia, Senior African Union and U.S. government officials, among others for a discussion on a U.S.-Africa partnership in energy transitions. This was on the sidelines of the U.S-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington D.C.
On November 1, 2022, I participated in a panel discussion to preview the issues at stake at the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm el Sheikh Egypt, COP-27
On October 13, 2022, I participated in this discussion on Aljazeera English’s Bottom Line on “Why is the U.S. Role in Africa Shrinking?”
In September 2022, I co-hosted with the African Climate Foundation, this panel discussion on negotiations of the JETP, progress toward implementation in South Africa, implications for other African countries, and the changing role of the international community in mobilizing climate finance.
On September 8, 2022, I had the Washington D.C. launch of my book, “Economic Diversification in Nigeria: the Politics of Building a Post-Oil Economy”
On July 19, 2022, I hosted this discussion on “How Feasible is Net-Zero in the Global South?”
On May 18, I co-hosted a discussion with the IMF Africa Department on how African countries can navigate the turbulence in the global economy.
On April 20, I hosted and moderated a discussion on Africa’s Post-Pandemic Recovery with the Finance Ministers of Ghana and Nigeria.
On March 15, I hosted and moderated a discussion on Africa’s Changing Role in the United Kingdom’s Foreign Policy
In early March 2022, I was in Guyana to discuss economic diversification and sustainable use and management of the country’s natural resources. Here is a video from a press conference in Georgetown.
On March 2 2022, I hosted and moderated a discussion on governance and economic policy with the Vice President of Kenya, Dr. William S. Ruto. We were joined by U.S. Congresswoman Representative Karen Bass, who is also the Chair of the House Sub-Committee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
On Dec 2 2021, I was a panelist in an episode of Al-Jazeera’s Inside Story to discuss whether the European Union’s (EU) Global Gateway can compete with China’s BRI
On November 3 2021, I participated in a panel discussion on the sidelines of the UN’s COP-26 Climate Summit in Glasgow to discuss how to mobilize private capital for climate action in emerging markets. The discussion was co-hosted by Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy
On July 15 2021, I hosted a discussion with scholars and academics on whether China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the G7’s Build Back Better World (B3W) infrastructure initiatives can co-exist in Africa.
On May 20 2021, I hosted a discussion with government officials, development partners and academics on the unemployment crisis in Nigeria and South Africa
Commentary on BBC World News on U.S. Secretary of State’s Virtual ‘Trip’ to Africa, on May 4 2021
Commentary on BBC World News on U.S. Secretary of State’s Virtual ‘Trip’ to Africa, on May 4 2021
Commentary, on April 27 2021 explaining U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s virtual ‘visit’ to Nigeria and Kenya
To mark the launch of the Carnegie Endowment’s Africa Program which I am heading, I participated on 29 March 2021 in this Carnegie Europe public event to take stock of the EU-Africa relationship in light of the covid-19 pandemic and to discuss the changing nature of the partnership.
A short video on March 11 2021 on “How to Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Access in Africa”
I presented at this webinar on “Harnessing the Digital Revolution for Inclusive and Quality Jobs for African Countries” on 28 September 2020 organized by Chatham House
We launched our report “The Future of Work in Africa” at the Brookings Institution, on 17 October 2019. The full videos of the event are available on the Brookings website.
Global launch of the National Oil Company (NOC) database at the Open Government Hub in Washington D.C., on 25 April 2019
Panel discussion at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Nigeria’s Elections, on 30 January 2019
My interview with the School of Public Policy at the Central European University on Africa-China relations, in April 2016
I participated in a panel discussion on ‘China and Global Development: Different Perspectives on Africa’. This was at the School of Public Policy, Central European University, Budapest, alongside, Professor George Wu (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) and Professor Chris Alden (London School of Economics and Political Science). The discussion was convened and moderated by Dr Daniel Large, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and MPA Director.
I spoke to Andrew Walker, in this report for Foreign Policy on the abduction of school girls in Chibok and the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. The report’s title is ‘100 Days of Violence, Rumours and Loss‘ published on 25 July 2014
My interview with BBC Focus on Africa on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa. It was broadcast on 24 September 2014
My presentation on the fragmentation of political cohesion and the ‘Boko Haram’ insurgency at the Africa Research Institute (ARI) London, in October this year, is out. It is 21 minutes long. Enjoy.
My interview with BBC Focus on Africa on Boko Haram attacks in Baga, Borno in North-East Nigeria. It was broadcast on 12 January 2015.
I like all your interviews and lectures. I really love you Zainab Usman. Keep going on, keep researching, keep commenting. Undoubtly, sky is your limit. I love you.
Zee, I wish I can be like you. I so much like reading alots but my problem is inconsistency. I just like the way you plan this your summer readings really wish could be as organized.
Hi Mustapha, trust me, I’m probably not as organised as I sound. 🙂 You can also do this really, you just have to create time for it, it’s do-able. If you try to get one or two hours at least every two days, you’d be surprised at how much material you can cover. Good luck!
Hi Zainab, I’m so very impressed both by your passion for knowledge and your application of same. Believe me, having gone through med school, i can attest that acquiring knowledge is one thing and the greater achievement is application of knowledge which you have done so very well.
I’m incredibly proud of you and hope to meet you in person some day again.
Wish you Allah’s baraka.
First of all i would like to thank Allah almighty for creating you in equal measure especially in your articulations. Many or some of us know about details of many things in Nigeria but i haven’t seen any person male or female in Nigeria’s young generation with your depth or decorrance in delivery. If we were expected to nominate a minister in the federal republic from Nigeria’s teaming youth you have my vote if its up to me. You remind me of one of the new ministers who is coincidentally your name sake Zainab Ahmed Shamsuna. I can only imagine the crowd or mails you receive globally so only a machine or app can keep up with your fans, so sorry for our lack of understanding when you don’t reply to us all or on time, Stay blessed and God protect you / your message of hope to Nigeria.
Zainab, at such a young age you are doing so much for which you must be encouraged and appreciated. In my mid sixties you are source of inspiration and motivation for me to do something like you in my remaining a few years of life. Kudos with hugs!!
Zainab Usman 
Interesting subject.
I like all your interviews and lectures. I really love you Zainab Usman. Keep going on, keep researching, keep commenting. Undoubtly, sky is your limit. I love you.
Zee, I wish I can be like you. I so much like reading alots but my problem is inconsistency. I just like the way you plan this your summer readings really wish could be as organized.
Hi Mustapha, trust me, I’m probably not as organised as I sound. 🙂 You can also do this really, you just have to create time for it, it’s do-able. If you try to get one or two hours at least every two days, you’d be surprised at how much material you can cover. Good luck!
Hi Zainab, I’m so very impressed both by your passion for knowledge and your application of same. Believe me, having gone through med school, i can attest that acquiring knowledge is one thing and the greater achievement is application of knowledge which you have done so very well.
I’m incredibly proud of you and hope to meet you in person some day again.
Wish you Allah’s baraka.
First of all i would like to thank Allah almighty for creating you in equal measure especially in your articulations. Many or some of us know about details of many things in Nigeria but i haven’t seen any person male or female in Nigeria’s young generation with your depth or decorrance in delivery. If we were expected to nominate a minister in the federal republic from Nigeria’s teaming youth you have my vote if its up to me. You remind me of one of the new ministers who is coincidentally your name sake Zainab Ahmed Shamsuna. I can only imagine the crowd or mails you receive globally so only a machine or app can keep up with your fans, so sorry for our lack of understanding when you don’t reply to us all or on time, Stay blessed and God protect you / your message of hope to Nigeria.
Great things happen to great people, indeed Dr. you were great. Proud of you at all time
Zainab, at such a young age you are doing so much for which you must be encouraged and appreciated. In my mid sixties you are source of inspiration and motivation for me to do something like you in my remaining a few years of life. Kudos with hugs!!