OSITA OGBU was educated at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he graduated in 1979 with a B.Sc. in Economics and at Howard University in Washington D.C., USA where he obtained an M.A. in Economics in 1984 and a Ph.D. in Economics in 1988. He also earned a certificate in Corporate Governance from Harvard University in 2009.

He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Education - an honorary award from the National Academy for Education to underscore his many contributions to education in Africa and Nigeria. He was a Visiting Fellow/Scholar at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. [No1 Think Thank in the World] from January to April, 2012. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors. On September 29, 2014, he was invested with the National Honors, Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON.

He was a Research Economist in the Africa Region of the World Bank in Washington D.C between 1987 and 1991. He worked for the International Development Research Centre of Canada in Ottawa and at the regional office in Nairobi as a Senior Program Specialist from 1991 to 2001. He was the Executive Director/CEO of the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) in Nairobi from 2001 to 2005. [ATPS is an international institution with chapters in 25 African countries set up to propagate the critical importance of science and technology for Africa’s development].

He was the immediate past Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan. He was the Chief Economic Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria / Minister of National Planning from 2005 to 2006 from where he resigned to join active politics and contested for the PDP Governorship primaries of Enugu State in 2007. He was also a board member of the Mainstreet Bank Ltd.

He is currently a Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is also the MD/CEO of the African Development Solutions International Ltd. [ADSI], a knowledge-based consulting firm, based in Abuja, Nigeria. Prof. Ogbu has published and edited several books on African development as well as scholarly papers on a wide range of Africa’s developmental challenges. His views on development and science and technology policy in Africa are respected internationally and he is a leading figure and champion of Africa’s intellectual freedom.

Prof. Ogbu is a teacher, a youth mentor, a public speaker, public affairs commentator, international consultant and an author. He has travelled to over 45 countries mostly for professional engagements.

He is also a novelist; the author of the novel, The Moon Also Sets, published by the East African Educational Publishers, Nairobi and Heinemann Educational Books, Ibadan. He was a past President of the Rotary Club of Milimani, Nairobi and a Paul Harris Fellow. Prof. Ogbu holds the traditional title – OSHIMIRI OF NSUKKA. Prof. Ogbu is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Ogugua Osi-Ogbu, the Acting Director of Clinical Services at the National Hospital, Abuja and they have 3 children, Ikeme, Adaora and Oforma.

Facilitators and Principal Partners

The Principal partners in ADSI have worked at the World Bank, the IMF, the International Development Research Centre of Canada, the Nigerian government and have consulted for other international organizations.

Our Principal Partners and Areas of Specialization: