Oluwafemi
Ojo is a Ph.D Economics candidate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa, with a strong background in international trade, research, and data
analysis. He has worked with notable organizations, including the Dangote Group and the
Africa International Trade and Commerce Research in Nigeria, where he focuses
on trade policy analysis and economic research. Oluwafemi's academic journey
began at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, where he earned a National Diploma
in Business Administration. He completed a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in economics at the
University of Lagos, with his master’s thesis on the impact of human capital
investment on Nigeria's innovation capacity. Currently, as an assistant manager
in research in the export unit of Dangote Cement PLC, he plays a crucial role
in supporting international trade issues and engaging stakeholders to enhance
export operations. His contributions helped Dangote Cement become one of the
first Nigerian companies to receive the Certificate of Origin under the Africa
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement in July 2024. Oluwafemi has
authored numerous research papers and policy briefs and held leadership roles,
including Secretary of Nigeria's Technical Work Group on Geographical
Indications. His commitment to improving international trade and economic
policies positions him as a significant asset in the field.
Sakhile Mpungose is
an economics lecturer at the UKZN School of Accounting, Economics and Finance,
where he consistently expresses his passion for economics, highlighting its relevance to everyday
life and the understanding of various societal components, including people,
businesses, and governments. His doctoral research, supervised by UKZN
economists Professor Colette Muller and Dr. Ralitza Dobreva, is titled
"Wellbeing in South Africa: Regional Economic Disparities, Conspicuous
Consumption, and the Provision of Infrastructure." The study employs
econometric methods to explore how geographical location impacts the subjective
well-being of South Africans, focusing on regional disparities, conspicuous
consumption, and public infrastructure access. The findings reveal the links
between persistent spatial inequalities and the influence of context on
welfare, emphasizing the government's critical role in shaping economic
geography to improve life satisfaction across the population. This research is
significant for microeconomics and has implications for public policy,
particularly for the Presidency's Department of Planning, Monitoring, and
Evaluation, which may utilize Mpungose’s insights for strategic development.
