WHAT: African Development Institute (ADI) High-Level Policy Dialogue for Transition States at Nigerian Economic Society 2025 Annual Conference
WHO: African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Nigerian Economic Society (NES).
WHEN: 8 - 11 September 2025
WHERE: NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria; and Online
The African Development Institute (ADI) of the African Development Bank Group will host a high-level policy dialogue on "Driving Africa's Economic Transformation in Transition States: The Role of Capacity Development and Knowledge Management" at the 66th Nigerian Economic Society (NES) Annual Conference in Abuja, Nigeria.
Background
Africa's current growth performance is insufficient to eradicate poverty and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063. The combined impacts of COVID-19, conflict, and climate change have further exposed the vulnerability of Africa's health and economic systems, along with the fragility of its growth foundations, particularly the heavy dependency on commodity exports and external finance. Yet, the continent possesses abundant natural, human, and financial resources required to sustain high annual GDP growth rates of at least 7% that are both inclusive and environmentally sustainable. Unlocking these opportunities is critical as Africa strives to build forward better and bolder to secure a resilient, prosperous, and sustainable future for all.
However, in Africa's transition states, individual, institutional and organizational capacities to achieve these goals remain at their weakest. These countries face weak governance and institutions, security challenges, economic vulnerability, debt distress, wide gaps in social service delivery, and limited resilience to shocks. This underscores the urgent need for special attention to ensure they are not left behind.
The dialogue will bring together senior public officials from Africa's 22 Transition States, along with economists, development experts, and policymakers, to examine the enablers and barriers to structural transformation. Participants will share experiences on the role of capacity development and knowledge management, showcase what is working and what needs to work better based on the Bank's interventions in these countries, and propose policy recommendations for inclusive growth and economic transformation in Africa's Transition States.
Dr Eric Kehinde Ogunleye, Director, African Development Institute (ADI) of the African Development Bank Group, will deliver the keynote presentation. The session will also feature a panel discussion with senior executives of the Bank Group, development experts, and practitioners.
The dialogue will examine structural transformation challenges in Africa's Transition States and share lessons on governance, fiscal policy, demography, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. The Policy Dialogue will serve as a platform to showcase the Bank's flagship capacity development programs (PFMA, MEMA, PDMA, ICFCs, VCDA) and flagship knowledge products (AEOs, REOs, CFRs). The dialogue is intended to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and strengthen the networks and capacity of technical experts and policymakers in Transition States through interfacing with global and African policymakers, economists, and development practitioners.
The 2025 Annual Conference of the Nigeria Economic Society, a pan-African knowledge platform, is scheduled for 8-11 September on the theme "Rethinking Africa's Development: Pathways to Economic Transformation and Social Inclusion in a Changing Global Economic Landscape."
The conference is expected to draw more than 2,500 economists and leaders from across Africa and globally to discuss digital finance, youth employment, job creation, African demographic dividend, skills development, and governance for sustainable development.
The African Development Institute will maintain an exhibition stand throughout the 4-day event to provide consultation, capacity development clinics, share information, and showcase the Bank's capacity development and knowledge tools, materials, products, and services.
