Cosmas C. Ohaka PhD is a Business Administrator, Development Expert, Educationist and Researcher. An alumnus of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK, and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), his other academic and professional qualifications include: MBA (Marketing), PGD (Marketing), BSc. (Accounting), Diploma in Marketing and Diploma in Management. Cosmas Ohaka has work experience in both the public and private sectors of Nigeria spanning over two decades. His research interests are on development management, governance and public policy.

His yet to be published doctoral thesis is on the impact of remittances, financial sector development and institutional quality on investments in Nigeria. He has presented a number of papers including Population Growth and Economic Development. (UNN, 2012), Non-Governmental Organizations and National Development- Need for Paradigm shift. (UNN, 2012), Improving the Internally Generated Revenue of Local Governments in Enugu State (Enugu, 2013), Political Campaign funding and Corruption in Nigeria. (UNN, 2013), Understanding the Entrepreneur (Enugu, 2016).

He has also attended a number of seminars and training workshops on water management, safety and security, gender equality and conflict management. Cosmas Ohaka has participated in a number of research projects of the Centre.

Dr. Oliver C. Ujah is an independent consultant and Agricultural Economist with specialization in Resource and Environmental Economics from the University of Nigeria. He has over ten years’ agricultural research and consultancy experience in Nigeria with special interest in agricultural development economics, food security, climate change, sustainability and WASH (water and sanitation). He is also active in subnational governance and accountability issues through many years of active participation in subnational governance and business environment benchmarking in States of Nigeria.

David Onyinyechi Agu is an economist from Nigeria. He specializes in the area of quantitative economics, including macroeconomic/econometric modeling. He is a member of the Econometric Society (ES), a member of the International Economic Association (IEA), a network member of the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and many other professional bodies. Using econometric tools, Over the last Sixteen years, David has carried out a number of research studies, especially in the areas of financial markets, international capital flows and fiscal policies in Africa (in general) and Nigeria (in particular). Being a member of these professional bodies, he has attended and presented academic papers at more than Sixteen (16) international conferences and workshops, a number of which have culminated into working papers, research papers, journal articles and book chapters afterwards.

David has equally provided consultancy services to a number of national and international organisations working in Nigeria. This has made him to develop specialized skills in the area of Public Financial Management (PFM) systems reforms. He has equally supported a number of these development partners in carrying out their feasibility study as well as implementing their development programmes. Some of the multilateral and bilateral organisations include FCDO (formerly DFID/UKAid), former USAID, UNICEF, UN Women, UNU, World Bank, etc. These consultancy services have produced more than Forty (40) technical reports and have been presented in more than 60 policy workshops and stakeholders’ forums. He therefore has mastered the art of stakeholders’ engagement both at the level of trying to source for information and at the point of dissemination of findings. To deepen his hold on the issues of Public Financial Management (PFM), he completed and is a certified PFM Expert by the IMF.

Okolo-obasi Nduka has garnered over ten years’ experience working in development, financial and management consulting outfit. Well vast in gathering, analysis, design, development, deployment in several social research Projects. He hold a Bechelor of Agricultural Technology, Agricultural Economics and Extension from Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), M.Sc, in Development studies from the f University of Nigeria Nsukka and currently a PhD student of development studies of the same University of Nigeria Nsukka. Mr. Okolo-obasi is well experienced in designing and delivering large scale programmes with a track record of meeting and exceeding target while maintaining technical quality. He is Highly numerically articulate with record of data manipulation and the use of computer packages like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power Point, Microsoft Access, Adobe PageMaker, Simnet, SPSS, STATA, Distributive Analysis (DAD), Tora, Lindo and Lingo Optimization Software, Limdep, Microfit, CS-PRO, Operation Research (OR) Courseware, Econometric Views (E-Views), Limdep, Data Envelopment Analysis [DEA], Give-Win, Pc-Fml, PC-Give and What is Best and reporting systems. He has a sound strategic thinking and planning skill, having ability to think creatively and innovate and set priorities to manage work plan and evaluate progress. Highly experienced working with social protection or cash transfer programmes like the United Nations’ Harmonised Approach for Cash Transfer (HACT). A tested and proven team player and highly self-motivated.

Mr. Okolo-obasi has consulted for so many international development organizationslike the United Nations EXcom agencies (UNICEF, UNDP and UNFPA), DIFD and USAID; WaterAid Nigeria, African Union (AU), New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and Economic Community of west African States (ECOWAS) etc. He has also consulted for numerous national development organization which include but not limited National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHCDA), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Agency for the control of Aids (NACA), National Automotive Council (NAC), Nigeria Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER), National Urban Water Sector Rehabilitation Programme (NUWSRP), Office of the senior special assistant to the president on MDG (OSSAP-MDG), Revenue Mobilization and fiscal commission (RMFAC) and several state governments.

Mr Okolo-obasi is an affiliate of many professional organization including; Nigerian Economic Society (NES), International Development Economics Associates (IDEAs), Poverty and Economic Policy Research Network (PEP), Global Development Network (GDN), African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE), Nigeria Association of Agricultural Economist(NAAE),and Natural Resources and Environmental Economics Group (NAREEG). He has core research interests in the areas of macro-economic policy, financial reforms, fiscal and monetary policy, international trade, migration, poverty etc. He is actively involved in many evidence-based and policy related researches of PHD Consulting where he serves as Senior Manager Consultancy.

Uchenna is an economist, a development expert and a researcher in the field of development Economics. His interests include Development Finance; Financial Inclusion; Public Finance; Trade and Regional Integration; and International Capital Flows. He has over the years developed quantitative analytical skill especially in the areas of time series econometrics, panel data, cross sectional econometrics. He has presented research papers in conference both within and outside Nigeria. He has also served as resource person in workshops and summit including the Aba Urban Development summit in January 2016 and the workshop on development of performance indicator for monitoring IGR performance in Anambra State (August 2016). Uchenna is also capable of providing several technical services including reliable data collection, data cleaning/analysis, production of technical reports and policy briefs.

Dick Emmanuel is a researcher with Development Strategy centre (DSC), Enugu, Nigeria. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. After his one year compulxory service during which he taught Economics and mathematics in Ikabigbo Grammar school, Uzairue, Edo State, proceeded for further studies at the University of Nigeria. Consequently Emmanuel holds a Master of Science degree in Quantitative Economics from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu state, and is a prospective Ph.D candidate at the same institution. In the course of his career, Emmanuel has worked as Economics tutor at Doyen Academy (School of Preliminary Studies), where he made his students fall in love with the subject of economics. Before his appointment at the development Strategy Centre, He was a research assistant to the consultant on Abia Education for Employment (E4E) Programme, where he led the team that collected and organized the data of unemployed youths in Abia state, Nigeria. While with DSC Emmanuel has participated in a couple of field works and data analysis.

Emmanuel is a reader by nature and very creative, he brings this powerful combination of creativity and passion to bear in economics research and writing. Over the last couple of months, Emmanuel has been trained and has worked with some of the best hands in research and specifically in the field of economics, not to mention his competency in the use of statistical software packages like Eviews and Stata in data analysis. He has also through his various endeavours demonstrated the ability to break down issues into manageable tasks.

Chioma is a young female Development practitioner and a current PhD student at the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nigeria. She has up to 6-years’ experience in development practice and research in Nigeria. She is an in-house researcher (microeconomics and social governance) with Development Strategy Centre (DSC) from the onset of the institute and fully participates in several development research studies and social governance with DSC. Chioma was also part of the dynamic team that conducted livelihood needs assessment funded by NEWMAP, Enugu State Project Monitoring Unit with another organization which was led by Nebechi Ugwuozor.

Chioma has been actively involved in several other research strategy report writing, monitoring and evaluation, administration and Needs Assessment. In the area of development practice, Chioma has worked with several non-governmental organisations where she helped the organisations to achieve their corporate missions of existence. Some of the non-governmental organisations are Poverty in Africa Alternative (POVINAA), Women Action Research Organisation (WARO), etc. She is very efficient in data gathering and analysing, proficient in the use of Microsoft word, Power point among others, also competent in the use of spread sheets (e.g. excel spread sheet), and knowledge of STATA.

Emekaraonye Chukwunenye Ferguson is an associate researcher at the Adullam Development Research Center (ADRC), formerly the Development Strategy Center (DSC), Enugu State, Nigeria. He is currently a PhD student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with a bias in Public Sector Economics and Finance.

He is very conversant with the use of econometrics software/applications such as E-Views, STATA, SPSS, among others. Chukwunenye has consulted widely, including consulting for reputable organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), WYG Nigeria Limited, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), University of Nigeria Health Policy Research Group (HPRG), etc. Chukwunenye has also won and managed research grants from the United Nations University-Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) as a Home-based Scholar, African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) thematic research grant, as well as African Econometric Society (AFES) travel grant for summer school.

He has some good publications to his credit and many conference paper presentations. He is also an active member of some professional bodies, such as the Nigerian Economic Society (NES), Econometric Society (ES) African Region, and a network member of the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC). His research interests include public finance management, digital finance, and international capital flows.

Ebere Mercy Nnoruka is a Political Scientist, Researcher, and a Certified Virtual and Executive Assistant with growing interest in governance and public policy. She holds a Master of Science degree in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, both from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Ebere currently serves as a Research Assistant at the Adullam Research and Development Centre, where she supports research design, data collection, data entry, transcription, and content editing for academic and policy projects. She has contributed to field research assignments, including the British Council’s study on the implementation of the Child Rights Act in Enugu State and the Enugu State Baseline Survey on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Facilities.

She has also served as a Website and Social Media Manager, overseeing content publication, online engagement, and digital communication for corporate organizations. In addition, she brings administrative and coordination experience from her background as a certified Virtual and Executive Assistant, with proficiency in digital tools for research, collaboration, and organizational management.

She occasionally assists undergraduate and postgraduate students by offering guidance in developing, structuring and refining their research projects. Passionate about social impact, she has participated in several community development initiatives, including the 50 Million African Women Speak project, Edu-Thrust Initiative, and Google Women Will Enugu. Her research interests include Public Policy, Governance and Institutional Development and Human Security.

Dr. Okolo-obasi, Nduka Vitalis Elda holds a B. Agric. Tech in Agricultural Economics and Extension from Federal University of Technology, Owerri, M.Sc and PhD in Development Studies from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. A core social scientist and development practitioner with vast interest in entrepreneurship and enterprise development, corporate governance, public finance management, agribusiness and natural resources, as well as poverty and inequality.

Dr. Elda is a dedicated team player, currently a Senior Research Fellow with the Adullam Development Research Centre (ADRC) Enugu, and Centre Coordinator, Central Bank of Nigeria’s Centre for Economics and Finance, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. He has participated in so many evidenced based researches and has widely consulted for both states and national governments, local and international organisations including, UNICEF, ECOWAS, AU, AfDB, UNDP, UNFPA, DFID, EU, British Council, GIZ, WorldBank, and many more.

His garnered vast research experience is evidenced in his publication of numerous research outputs (Journal articles, technical reports and policy briefs) on socio-economic development issues. He has produced over Ninety (90) well-research publications in high impact journals (web of science). He is well read with over 2,700 scholarly citations, and h-index of 33. Was rated 15th among the top 500 best scholars in University of Nigeria, and 249th in all Nigeria Universities in 2022 by Scival. Elda is known for his tenacity and doggedness in enhancing performance with technology and implementing best practices with total adherence to ethics.

A public speaker and coach, he has facilitated several courses, mentored and supervised numerous post graduate projects for Institutes, Departments, Centre and Business School in the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

Evelyn Nwamaka Ogbeide-Osaretin is a Professor of Development Economics in the Department of Economics, Edo State University, Iyamho, Edo State, Nigeria. In her research, she aims to understand the economic lives of the poor and deprived individuals, to design and evaluate social policies that will address the identified challenges.

Professor Evelyn holds a B. Sc, an M. Sc, and a Ph.D. degree in Economics from Delta State University, Abraka, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, respectively, where she specialized in Development Economics in her Ph.D. She is a member of several professional bodies and well-published Academic, among which are: Poverty and Economic Policy (PMMA) Network, Laval, Canada, African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the Econometrics Society, from the International to the State level. She is also a consultant and reviewer for various reputable academic journals, both national and international, including but not limited to the Clean Energy Journal, Oxford University Press, Africa Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, Inderscience Publishers, and Acta Scientific Agriculture, among others.

Evelyn has also worked as a team member in some scholarly grants; ” Analysis of impact of remittance on poverty in Nigeria Research: 2007- 2012”, by the Poverty and Economic Policy Network, Laval, Canada (Poverty Monitoring, Measurement and Analysis (PMMA- 10866)), and ”An Inquiry into the Political Economy of the Global Clean Energy Transition Policies and Nigeria’s Federal and State Governments’ Fiscal Policies” by the United Nations University – World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki, Finland; and the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis (JISEA), Colorado, USA. These resulted in the publication of working papers.

Her research runs through: Analysis of environmental issues and challenges with emphasis on energy use and climate change; Policies on Economic Growth and Development; Investment (public and private); Analysis of Poverty and Inequality (income and gender), and Food security, aligning with the Global Sustainable Development Goals. She has over 50 Journal articles in high-impact journals both nationally and internationally. She has also contributed some chapters to books, among which are: Ogbeide-Osaretin, E. N (2021): The meaning of research, types of research, and research process. In Umukoro, D. & Masajuwa, F. Research Methodology for Social and Legal Studies. Washington-London: Academic Press, and Agu, D. O. & Ogbeide-Osaretin, E. N. (2017). An Inquiry into the Political Economy of the Global Clean Energy Transition Policies and Nigeria’s Federal and State Governments’ Fiscal Policies. In D. Arent, C. Arndt, M. Miller, F. Tarp, & O. Zinaman, The Political Economy of Clean Energy Transitions. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Professor Evelyn has held several positions serving in various capacities both at the National level and within the institutions where she has been privileged to work. She likes reading and is happily married and blessed with lovely children.

Okogbue Chijioke is a versatile and result-driven economist with a Ph.D. in Economics and extensive experience in policy research, consultancy, and data-driven economic analysis. Widely published in reputable journals, with proven expertise in econometric modeling, impact evaluation, and evidence-based policy design. Skilled in leading technical sessions, developing analytical frameworks, and applying statistical and computational tools to solve complex development and business challenges. Adept at translating research findings into actionable insights for governments, development agencies, and private-sector clients. Recognized for professionalism, analytical precision, and a strong commitment to delivering high-quality consultancy outcomes.

Dr. Okogbue is a Public Financial Management (PFM) expert certified by the online learning initiative of the International Monetary Fund (IMFx). He is equally an expert in auditing and financial accountability and has held sensitive positions in financial institutions like the branch treasurer at Intercontinental Bank Plc and Head, Internal Audit, Abia State University microfinance bank.

He is a practicing Economist, a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), an experienced Researcher and a Lecturer. He holds PhD degree at the Department of Economics University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Dr. Okogbue worked for Intercontinental Bank PLC where he handled relationship management of both retail banking and public sector banking. He equally worked with Justin Nwosu & Co., Chartered Accountants, where he handled Audit Practices and management consultancies of both private and public sectors. Dr. Okogbue is currently a research fellow with Adullam Development and Research Centre (ADRC), Enugu.

Dr. Okogbue has vast practical experience in desk review and field survey spanning over a decade. Some of his survey and review works include but not limited to Livelihood Needs Assessment (LNA) for 9th Mile and Ajali Gully/Erosion sites in Enugu state by Nigeria Erosion Control and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and World Bank in 2012; Access to Federal Government of Nigeria Intervention (Agriculture and SMEs) Funds in the South East for UKaid Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn in 2018; Federal Government of Nigeria Intervention in Health and Education Sectors in some selected states of Nigeria in 2018; Impact Evaluation Study on Nigerian Energy (Rensource) Users Market in Kano State of Nigeria in 2020. Review of Abia State 2020 Approved Budget and Abia State Auditor General’s Report 2018; and Review of the General Performance of the Anambra State Budget and Detailed Analysis of the Performance of Key Sectors from 2015 to 2021.

He has consulted for many agencies and Institutions including Budget Transparency International, Abuja; Christian Aid International; UKaid Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn, among others and was actively involved in training policy makers and legislatures in Ebonyi State on Gender Responsive Budgeting, organised by International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ebonyi State Branch, with support from UN-EU Spotlight Initiative, Abia State and Enugu State governments.

Dr. Mrs. Chinenye Loretta Kene-Okafor, a thoroughbred and successful investment advisor, attended Federal Government Girls College, Onitsha, Anambra State, and graduated in Statistics and Economics from University of Nigeria Nsukka. She sojourned at the Pan-Atlantic University (Lagos Business School) and left with an MBA in Management, after which she returned to University of Nigeria, Nsukka, for a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), with specialization in Ethics and Sustainable Development.

Chinenye is an Authorized Dealing Clerk of the Nigerian Exchange Group (formerly The Nigerian Stock Exchange), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (FCS) and Associate of the Chartered Institute of Pension (ACIP). She is an alumnus of the highly regarded Stephen R. Covey course on 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and the IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Barcelona, Spain, course on Managing with the Service Profit Chain, among other training programmes/professional development courses.

Chinenye has a varied and rewarding career in Marketing, Office Administration, Investment Banking, Finance, and Commodities Trading. Her extensive career path includes tenures at Counters Trust Securities Limited (now known as FSDH Securities Limited) and Cowry Asset Management Limited.

Peace Obianujunwa Ewuzie, PhD, is a Development Expert, Educationist, and Researcher with vast experience in research, data analytics, and project management across Nigeria. She holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from Delta State University, Abraka; a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; and a B.Agric.Tech. in Agricultural Economics from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

With over a decade of professional experience in both the public and private sectors, Dr. Ewuzie has contributed to numerous development research initiatives and policy interventions. She has worked on several high-impact projects including the Baseline Assessment of Conflict-Related Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) funded by the Ford Foundation; the Tax for Service Project in Anambra State supported by Oxfam Nigeria and CISLAC; and the Medium-Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) Development for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector of Adamawa and Sokoto States, commissioned by USAID State2State Activity, Nigeria.

Dr. Ewuzie also played key roles in the Baseline Assessment of the WASH Sector in Enugu State, conducted for the Enugu State Government, where she led data collection and analysis teams that informed state-level policy decisions. Her ability to design, coordinate, and analyze large-scale field research using advanced econometric tools such as R, Stata, SPSS, and Excel has distinguished her as a reliable professional in evidence-based development planning.

Her doctoral thesis, titled “Gender Analysis of the Effect of Financial Inclusion on Climate Change Adaptation Strategies of Agribusiness Enterprises in South-East Nigeria,” reflects her commitment to promoting inclusive finance and sustainable livelihood strategies. She has authored and co-authored several scholarly publications on finance, gender, climate change adaptation, agricultural development, and poverty reduction.

Dr. Ewuzie has participated in a range of capacity-building programs and international workshops, including training on Mapping Heat Stress with Google Earth Engine (Curtin University, Australia) and specialized econometric software training jointly organized by USAID, IFPRI, and Michigan State University.