I am an economist with a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ilorin. My research lies at the intersection of agriculture and development, with a particular focus on food security, rural digitalisation, climate change, gender, and poverty reduction.<\/p>\n
My professional journey began during my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year at the Central Bank of Nigeria, where I served in the Development Finance Department, helped design the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), and supported the implementation of the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS). Following my NYSC, I joined academia as an assistant lecturer and have remained in academia ever since, while occasionally taking short breaks to explore opportunities in development practice.<\/p>\n
More recently, I have worked on Small Area Estimation in support of the World Bank Poverty and Equity Global Practice, using survey and census data to estimate development indicators such as Early Childhood Development (ECD) outcomes and labour force participation rates at the ward and local government levels. I also contributed analytical work to the Poverty and Equity Assessment in Nigeria. In addition, I have supported the World Bank’s Gender Innovation Lab through research design, policy engagement and research uptake activities, working closely with project teams and government officials across various ministries, including the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.<\/p>\n
Looking back, I am proud of how my career has evolved from being a young graduate intern during my NYSC at the Central Bank of Nigeria to becoming both an academic and a development practitioner. My development experience has deepened my appreciation for research by showing me how rigorous evidence can translate into concrete policies and real-world impact. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and the contributions I can continue to make through research, project design, and policy engagement.<\/p>\n
I have always been naturally curious and eager to learn. From an early stage, I knew I wanted to pursue postgraduate studies and eventually earn a PhD. Growing up in an academic environment also influenced that decision. My father was a lecturer, so I was exposed to academia from a young age and came to appreciate research’s role in generating knowledge and solving problems. After my NYSC, I was fortunate to secure an assistant lecturing position, which introduced me more deeply to the world of research. Since then, I have been motivated by a desire to become the best version of myself and contribute meaningfully to society through evidence-based solutions.<\/p>\n
What inspires me most today is the potential for research to address some of Africa’s most pressing development challenges. Issues such as food insecurity, poverty, climate vulnerability, and agricultural transformation require innovative solutions. Asking the right questions and conducting high-quality research can generate the evidence needed to improve policies and programmes. Knowing that my work can contribute, even in a small way, to improving lives is what continues to motivate me.<\/p>\n
I have always been naturally curious and eager to learn. From an early stage, I knew I wanted to pursue postgraduate studies and eventually earn a PhD. Growing up in an academic environment also influenced that decision. My father was a lecturer, so I was exposed to academia from a young age and came to appreciate research’s role in generating knowledge and solving problems. After my NYSC, I was fortunate to secure an assistant lecturing position, which introduced me more deeply to the world of research. Since then, I have been motivated by a desire to become the best version of myself and to contribute meaningfully to society through evidence-based solutions.<\/p>\n
What inspires me most today is the potential for research to address some of Africa’s most pressing development challenges. Issues such as food insecurity, poverty, climate vulnerability, and agricultural transformation require innovative solutions. Asking the right questions and conducting high-quality research can generate the evidence needed to improve policies and programmes. Knowing that my work can contribute, even in a small way, to improving lives is what continues to motivate me.<\/p>\n
Collaboration and mentorship are extremely important, especially for women researchers in Africa. I consider myself a product of both. As a researcher trained in an African institution, it is important to take advantage of every opportunity for learning, networking, and professional development in order to remain competitive within the global research community.<\/p>\n
Women often face unique challenges, including balancing professional responsibilities with family and caregiving roles. These realities may limit opportunities for international mobility or full-time postgraduate studies abroad. Mentorship, fellowships, and collaborative networks therefore play an important role in bridging these gaps.<\/p>\n
Strong networks create spaces where women can share experiences, exchange knowledge, and support one another through various stages of their careers. They also provide access to opportunities such as research collaborations, grant applications, publications, and policy engagement. When women connect with peers who share similar aspirations and challenges, they realise they are not alone. Together, they can achieve far more than they could individually. For me, collaboration and mentorship have been instrumental in my growth, and I believe strengthening these networks is key to increasing women’s participation and leadership in research.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest challenges has been managing time effectively across competing responsibilities. Research requires deep thinking, continuous learning, reading, and writing. For many women, these professional obligations are often combined with family and caregiving responsibilities. The challenge can be even greater for women working in academia, where teaching, student mentoring, administrative responsibilities, and community service are all part of the job. Balancing these demands while maintaining a productive research agenda is not always easy. Over time, however, I have learned the importance of prioritisation, planning, and setting realistic goals. I have also learned to seek support when needed and to focus on consistency rather than perfection. While the challenge never completely disappears, experience helps one develop strategies to manage competing demands more effectively.<\/p>\n
I have always wanted to be a lecturer, and choosing a career in academia has been one of the best decisions I have made. However, like many academics working in resource-constrained environments, there have been moments when I questioned that choice because of institutional challenges and limited opportunities.<\/p>\n
What has kept me motivated over the years are the achievements I have attained along the way despite these challenges. I am particularly proud of winning several highly competitive grants and fellowships, which have enabled me to expand my research, build networks, and grow professionally. I am also proud of the students and young researchers I have mentored. Seeing them secure competitive scholarships, grants, and fellowships is incredibly rewarding. Their success reminds me that research is not only about producing knowledge but also about developing the next generation of scholars.<\/p>\n
I also take pride in publishing in leading agricultural economics journals, including Food Policy and Agricultural Economics. As researchers trained and based in Africa, accessing and publishing in top international journals can sometimes be challenging due to resource and exposure constraints, which makes these achievements particularly meaningful to me. These milestones reassure me that the work I do contributes not only to scholarship but also to policy discussions and real-world impact.<\/p>\n
If I were to summarise my advice in two words, it would be hard work and persistence. There are no shortcuts in research. Producing quality work, securing grants, publishing papers, and building a professional reputation all require sustained effort over time. Rejections and setbacks are inevitable, but persistence is what makes the difference. I would also encourage young women to expand their horizons and actively seek opportunities beyond their immediate environments. Invest in your writing, communication, and analytical skills. Attend conferences, join professional networks, seek mentors, and collaborate with other researchers. It is equally important to believe in yourself and your abilities. Many talented women underestimate their potential or hesitate to apply for opportunities because they feel they are not ready. My advice is to apply anyway and step outside your comfort zone. As someone who is naturally shy, I am still working on some of these things myself.<\/p>\n
There is so much to be excited about as a researcher today. We are living in a period of rapid change, with new research tools, data sources, and analytical methods creating opportunities that were unimaginable just a few years ago. I am particularly interested in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, geospatial analytics, and small area estimation, and other new techniques that can help answer important development questions more effectively. At the same time, many of the challenges we care about, including food security, poverty reduction, climate resilience, youth employment, and gender equality, remain unresolved. This means there is still significant work to be done and many opportunities for impactful research.<\/p>\n
I also believe that AI and other digital technologies have the potential to reduce knowledge gaps between researchers in the Global South and the Global North by improving access to information and enhancing research productivity. However, these tools are most effective when combined with strong foundational knowledge, critical thinking, and methodological rigour. What excites me most is the opportunity to continue learning, exploring new ideas, collaborating with others, and contributing research that can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.<\/p>\n
I would like to emphasise the importance of investing in research capacity development across Africa, particularly for women and early-career researchers. While organisations such as AERC play an important role in this space, there is still more to be done. I think we need to assess the mentorship and funding models that work best for African researchers and invest more in approaches that have proven effective. We also need stronger collaboration between researchers and the private sector, with more private-sector actors actively supporting and funding research across the continent.<\/p>\n
I would also like to express my gratitude to the mentors, colleagues, students, friends, and institutions that have supported my journey. Project Khadijat has never been an individual effort. Every achievement represents the support, encouragement, and contributions of many people along the way.<\/p>\n
Finally, I remain optimistic about the future of research in Africa. We have a growing community of talented scholars who are producing high-quality research and contributing solutions to the continent’s development challenges. I am proud to be part of that community and look forward to contributing even more in the years ahead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":16432,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"class_list":["post-16431","women_in_research","type-women_in_research","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.oxygenehosting.com\/aerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/women_in_research\/16431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.oxygenehosting.com\/aerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/women_in_research"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.oxygenehosting.com\/aerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/women_in_research"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.oxygenehosting.com\/aerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.oxygenehosting.com\/aerc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}