Afri-Heritage trains lecturers on how to tackle economic recession

No fewer than 40 lecturers from universities across the country have been trained in Advanced Econometrics for Policy Analysis to equip them in tackling the current economic recession.

Prof. Ufo Okeke-Uzodike, the Executive Director of Afri-Heritage, made this known on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu.

Okeke-Uzodike said that the training was a fall-out of the meeting between the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Charles Soludo, some lecturers and the Africa Heritage Institution (Afri-Heritage).

NAN reports that the two weeks course, Train-the-Trainers, was organised by Afri-Heritage for university lecturers from the South-East zone.

He said that econometrics for policy analysis was relevant as the country was knee-deep in economic recession.

Okeke-Uzodike said that the meeting, attended by Heads of Departments of Economics, Banking and Finance from the public and private universities, was aimed at equipping the lecturers with relevant skills in policy analysis.

“The overall goal of the training is to increase skills, expertise and knowledge for appreciation, use and applications of econometrics methodologies/techniques for policy analysis formulation.

“Implementation and forecasting with the aim of proffering economic solutions that are workable and increase the effectiveness and credibility of academics in policy analysis.

“Again, the previous and present solutions to recession seem to defy the quest for effectiveness.

“Also, academics and experts seem to have lost credibility due to their continued ineffectiveness as policy makers, analysts and implementers,’’ he said.

The executive director said that the course was both theoretical and hands-on components; while its participants were exposed to new econometrics skills and models used in policy analysis.

Okeke-Uzodike said that the course was planned to run annually and would involve the government and CBN officials.

“The institution, Afri-Heritage, is willing to bear the cost of the training as part of its contributions to the development of the country,’’ he said.