Nafeesat Rabiu-Adebayo

I hold a Master of Arts in Global Affairs and Human Security from the University of Baltimore, United States. My coursework covered a wide range of topics, including international relations theory, global governance, human security, and conflict studies. I also earned a Master of Science in Agricultural Extension from the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, where I focused on sustainable agriculture, rural development, and technology adoption among farmers.

My undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, where I studied a diverse curriculum encompassing agricultural extension, agronomy, animal production, agricultural economics, and crop protection. This interdisciplinary foundation has been instrumental in shaping my holistic approach to international development research.

I joined the School of Global Development at the University of East Anglia in October 2022 as a Ph.D. candidate. My research interests span international development, aid effectiveness, agricultural trade, and global affairs, with a regional focus on Africa and the Middle East. My doctoral thesis employs mixed methods to evaluate a donor-funded project in Nigeria and analyze the impacts of aid-for-trade on Nigeria's trade costs and exports. I am passionate about aid effectiveness and the political economy of development.

I am a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) accredited by the Project Management Institute, with a strong background in project planning, execution, and stakeholder management, which I bring to my work in international development.

Before pursuing my doctoral studies, I worked as a Business Development Analyst for a multinational corporation in Nigeria. In this role, I led a team that developed an agri-tech project and supported the organization’s core business through data analysis and effective stakeholder engagement. Additionally, I have served as a Research Assistant at the University of East Anglia, the University of Manchester, and the University of Baltimore. My experience also includes supervising a high-profile initiative for the Presidency in Nigeria and working as an Agricultural Officer with a state ministry of agriculture.

I have contributed to academic discourse through publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at international conferences, and fellowships from the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area. My goal is to leverage my expertise in research, program development, and cross-cultural collaboration to drive innovative initiatives in international relations and global affairs.

Development Studies Association

International Development, Agriculture, Political Economy, Aid for Trade, Food Security, Global Affairs, and Human Security