The year in review
Highlights of 2025 at the NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies
The NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies hit a milestone this year when it welcomed a 27-year-old Nigerian as its first African intern. Anang Didam Patrick who graduated with a Master’s degree in Agribusiness Innovation from Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco, arrived in Singapore on 5 June 2025 for a 4-month internship stint at the Centre. Her confirmation was not easy. She was initially supposed to join CAS in April, but her University-supported student visa application was rejected. It was only after an appeal, supported by letters from the NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies and the Nigerian High Commission, that her application was eventually approved, allowing her to finally arrive in Singapore.
Over the next 4 months, she assisted Centre Director Amit Jain with some basic research and operational matters. She also attended the Africa Singapore Business Forum (ASBF), where Centre Director Amit Jain moderated a panel discussion. Click here to read her reflections.
There were three Africa-plus-one forums that happened in Asia this year in quick succession. Within a month of the ASBF Japan hosted TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development), and Confederation of Indian Industry hosted the India-Africa Conclave in New Delhi. What exactly are Asian powers seeking on the continent? To answer such questions the NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies hosted a panel discussion in September examining how Asia is turning to Africa for minerals, and markets. Moderated by Amit Jain, the panellists featured Dr Veda Vaidyanathan, Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress; Dr Takuo Iwata, Professor at Ritsumeikan University; and Christian-Géraud Neema, Editor at the China Global South Project. Click here to find out more.
The Centre organised eight public talks this year. Among the most notable speakers was Edward Kieswetter, the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS). He explained how South Africa restored public trust in its tax authority and improved compliance. Click here to know more.
Centre Director Amit Jain visited Sierra Leone and Nigeria this year. In Freetown he spoke at a panel discussion at the 7th West African Tax Authority Forum (WATAF) becoming the only Asian delegate to be invited to the conference and the only one representing an academic institution. He attended the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2025) in Abuja and made a field visit to the neighbouring Nasarawa state where he saw the solar mini grids put up by Husk Power Systems.
On research we took a closer look at Singapore Egypt economic ties, the evolution of Japanese economic interests in Africa, and the trend of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Africa. Rafiq Raji put forward four impact scenarios for trade between China and Africa amidst a rising global tariff tide. Ronak Gopaldas looked at African role in shaping new global trade corridors and Centre Director Amit Jain made a compelling case for the development of the capital market in Africa. Such work got its fair share of attention. Our readership grew 11% since the start of the year.
