It also provides consultancy services to governments, local and international development organizations and the organized private sector. The overall objective of AfriHeritage is encapsulated in its vision and mission statements. Furtherance to this, the institution envisions a renascent Africa that is democratic, prosperous and a major play in the global economy; and its mission is to provide intellectual leadership in helping Nigeria and Africa think meaningfully through the emerging economic renaissance.
The Institution has an eight-member Board of Directors chaired by Prof Chukwuma C. Soludo. Other members include: Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Prof Akpan Ekpo, Prof Osita Ogbu, H.E. Donald Duke, Prof Ralph C. Byrant, Jeffry C. Fine and Bishop Matthew Kukah. The institution is presently headed by an Executive Director – Prof Ufo Okeke-Uzodike and he is working with a good number of research and non-research staff. AfriHeritage through its fellowship programme has over 150 members with multi-discipline, diverse skills and knowledge who are readily available for the institution’s projects and programmes. Prior to Prof Okeke-Uzodike assuming the position of the Executive Director, the following persons served as Executive Director: Prof. Chukwuma C. Soludo (2001-2003), Prof. Eric C. Eboh (2003- 2012), Dr. Ifediora Amobi (2012-2015).
The institution focuses on two broad program areas namely: (i) Governance, Politics and Peace, (ii) Applied Economics. Within the Governance, Politics and Peace are the following sub-thematic areas: Governance and Public Policy (GAPP), Nation Building (NB), Gender Politics (GP), International Relations (IR), Social Inequality (SI), Elections, Conflict Transformation (CT), and Terrorism; while Trade, Regional Integration and Competition (TRIC), Macroeconomic Analysis, Modeling and Forecasting (MAMF), Public Sector Economics and Management (PSEM), Poverty, Income Distribution and Labour Market (PIDLAM), and Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRUD) are under Applied Economics.
Pursuant to its goals, the institution employs five programme methods/approaches:
(i) Responsive and proactive research entailing critical economic and allied research to extend the frontiers of knowledge as well as provide evidence for informed policymaking; (ii) Facilitating links and dialogue between policymakers and key stakeholders including private sector and civil society; (iii) Convening expert forums on key economic and development questions; (iv) National and International Networking and Collaboration; and (v) Consulting services for policy and institutional reforms, training and capacity building.
Key findings and outcomes of our researches form the basis for the institution’s policy engagements. Particularly, the institution has various platforms such as the Enugu Forum, Big Ideas Podium, High Level Policy Roundtables, Research Findings Dissemination workshops, conferences, seminars, and symposiums seminars. etc. for stakeholders’ engagements. Others are through the TV, Radio, National dailies and social media.
Since its inception in 2001, African Heritage Institution has shown strong capacity as a leading research institution and think tank in Nigeria. AfriHeritage works with various national and international organisations to deliver policy-oriented research, national/regional surveys, training, conferences, and workshops on topical issues as well as policy dialogue series. Particularly, the institution has consulted in different capacity for the following: The World Bank, Department for International Development (DFID), United State Agency for International Development (USAID), Centre for Budget and Policy Priorities, Washington DC, United Nations Development Programme (DFID), Ministry of National Planning and Budget, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Federal Inland Revenue Service, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chemonics, USA, IBM APRM/NEPAD, etc. The outstanding performance and track records of the institution’s competence in survey and impact evaluation and analysis of projects and programmes were critical considerations for awarding the contracts to the institution. Other outstanding achievements of the institution include its flagship project – Business Environment and Competitiveness across Nigerian States (BECANS) – a cyclical national survey and analysis of state-level business environment ranking across Nigerian states with the objective of improving and promoting better business environment of Nigerian states. The institution has produced three BECANS reports since its first series in 2007. Besides, the institution is a two-time grant recipient from International Development Research Institute (IDRC) under its Think Tank Initiative’s first phase and second phase from July 1, 2009 to September 30, 2013 and October 2014 to September 2019 respectively.
AfriHeritage is one of the highly ranked think tanks in Nigeria. We have impacted positively in the national policy space and beyond on issues related to our areas of focus. AfriHeritage is committed to promoting evidence-based policymaking and as such facilitates dialogue on many key economic, governance, and political issues. Through its publications such as Research Papers, Policy Papers, Policy Briefs, Macroeconomic Forecast Series, and Newsletters etc. the institution is constantly in touch with policymakers and other stakeholders.