The African School of Economics Entrepreneurship and Business (AfriSEEB) successfully hosted its 2026 Education Research Symposium on Saturday, 31 January 2026, via Zoom. The symposium, themed “Advancing Research, Scholarship, and Innovation in Education and Business,” marked the first Research Symposium organised by AfriSEEB since the commencement of its academic activities in 2022.
In his opening address, the President of AfriSEEB, Mazi Obozuluike Ofoelue, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to building a strong research culture that links scholarship with innovation, entrepreneurship, and Africa’s developmental priorities.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Chidozie Jerry Chukwuokolo, Professor of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. He emphasized research as a deliberate and goal-oriented pursuit of knowledge for human empowerment and national development, highlighting the critical role of research and development (R&D) in the advancement of nations. He called for stronger collaboration among the Nigerian state, universities, and research institutes as a pathway to sustainable national development.
The panel session was moderated by Dr Anuli Nwoye, Senior Academic Facilitator in the Department of Education Management, who described the symposium theme as timely and strategic in the face of rapid technological change, economic uncertainty, and evolving societal needs. She underscored research as a catalyst for societal transformation and encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based practice, ethical innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability. Dr. Nwoye is also a Senior Lecturer at Peaceland College of Education.
One of the panelists, Dr Chinwendu Okoro, a Senior Academic Facilitator in Industrial and Educational Psychology and Senior Lecturer in the General Studies Division, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, described the symposium as apt and timely. He stressed that research is central to economic development and advocated for intentional, problem-driven doctoral research through collaboration with business and industry. Drawing from global best practices, he noted that businesses in developed economies often sponsor research aligned with their needs and urged AfriSEEB scholars to champion industry-linked research to carve a distinctive niche within Nigeria’s education sector.
The symposium featured a distinguished lineup of academic experts, including Dr Nancy Precious Chinatu, Head of the Department of Education Management; Dr May Ngozi Ezeudu, Head of the Department of Guidance and Counselling; Mr Mark Kalu, Manager of the Port Harcourt City Study Hub; Mr Michael Dede, an Academic Facilitator at the Port Harcourt City Study Hub; and Mssr Chika Mba, Academic Facilitator in the Science Education Department and Administrative Officer of AfriSEEB. The event also attracted a large number of students across various programmes of the institution.
The maiden symposium concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing research-led, learner-centred, and innovation-driven education, reinforcing AfriSEEB’s role as a hub for impactful scholarship that bridges academia, industry, and society in Africa.