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DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Lagos:20260402T100000
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DTSTAMP:20260411T203653
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SUMMARY:CEPDeR’s National Budget Roundtable & Panel Discussion (NBR2026)
DESCRIPTION:Theme: National Budgeting\, Artificial Intelligence\, and Human Capital Development \n\nIntroduction\n\nThe National Budget Roundtable and Panel Discussion (NBR) — an annual flagship event of the Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR) at Covenant University — continues to provide a vital platform for dialogue on Nigeria’s fiscal direction and socio-economic development. \nThis year’s edition\, themed “National Budgeting\, Artificial Intelligence and Human Capital Development\,” addresses a timely and forward-looking topic. As the world embraces the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI)\, the 2026 National Budget offers Nigeria an opportunity to rethink how technology and fiscal policy can work together to build a more productive\, skilled\, and future-ready population. \nAt a time when digital technologies are reshaping industries\, education\, and governance\, this conversation aims to explore how the national budget can be used as a strategic tool to strengthen human capital and enhance public service delivery through responsible AI integration. \n\n Event Overview\n\nThe National Budget Roundtable (NBR) has\, over the years\, evolved into one of CEPDeR’s most significant thought-leadership events\, engaging policymakers\, academics\, development partners\, and industry players in critical conversations about Nigeria’s economic future. \nThe 2026 edition seeks to unpack how artificial intelligence can drive smarter fiscal management and unlock new pathways for human development. The discussions will revolve around using the national budget to fund education\, innovation\, and capacity-building initiatives that empower Nigerians to thrive in a rapidly changing world. \nBy focusing on the intersection between AI and human capital development\, NBR2026 will shed light on how Nigeria can align its fiscal priorities with global trends in digital transformation and sustainable growth. \n\n Event Details\n\nEvent: National Budget Roundtable (NBR2026)\nTheme: National Budgeting\, Artificial Intelligence and Human Capital Development\nDate: Thursday\, April 2nd\, 2026\nTime: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM (GMT+1)\nVenue: CUCRID Auditorium\, Covenant University\, Canaanland\, Ota\, Ogun State\nOrganized by: The Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR)\, Covenant University\, in collaboration with partner institutions and research networks.\nExpected Participants: Government officials\, academics\, business leaders\, civil society representatives\, international development partners\, and the media. \n\n Event Objectives\n\nThe roundtable aims to: \n\nHighlight the Role of the National Budget in Human Capital Transformation: Examine how fiscal allocations can foster AI adoption in education\, health\, and public administration.\nPromote Data-Driven Fiscal Governance: Explore how AI can improve budget transparency\, enhance decision-making\, and track expenditure efficiency.\nDiscuss the Interface between Technology and Human Development: Identify how AI can be applied to bridge learning gaps\, boost productivity\, and reduce inequalities in access to opportunities.\nEncourage Collaboration for Digital Growth: Foster dialogue among stakeholders on aligning national budgets with Nigeria’s digital economy and workforce development goals.\n\n\n Rationale for the Theme\n\nAround the world\, artificial intelligence is redefining productivity\, innovation\, and governance. For a developing country like Nigeria\, AI offers immense potential to reshape how resources are planned\, allocated\, and managed. \nThe 2026 National Budget comes at a crucial juncture\, where technology-driven transformation must go hand in hand with strategic investment in people. By prioritizing education\, digital literacy\, and innovation\, the national budget can help position Nigeria’s workforce to adapt to automation and seize opportunities in the knowledge economy. \nIntegrating AI into fiscal and developmental planning can also improve efficiency in tax administration\, project monitoring\, and social program targeting. More importantly\, it can serve as a catalyst for inclusive innovation — ensuring that every Nigerian benefits from the country’s digital advancement. \n\n Key Discussion Areas\n\nThe roundtable will engage participants around the following themes: \n\nArtificial Intelligence and Fiscal Innovation: Leveraging AI for smarter budgeting\, real-time expenditure tracking\, and improved public financial management.\nHuman Capital Development in a Digital Economy: Identifying priority sectors for budgetary investment in education\, skills\, and innovation.\nBridging Digital Inequalities: Ensuring that the benefits of AI and technological progress extend to underserved populations.\nInstitutional Readiness for AI Integration: Assessing the capacity of public institutions to adopt data analytics and AI tools for improved governance outcomes.\nPublic-Private Partnerships for Digital Empowerment: Exploring mechanisms for co-financing and implementing technology-driven human development projects.\n\n\n Expected Outcomes\n\nNBR2026 is expected to: \n\nDeepen understanding of the intersections between national budgeting\, artificial intelligence\, and human capital development.\nProduce a Policy Brief offering actionable recommendations on incorporating AI strategies into Nigeria’s fiscal framework.\nEncourage collaborative approaches to digital inclusion and technological capacity building.\nStrengthen advocacy for transparent\, data-informed governance practices.\nInspire a renewed commitment to human-centered fiscal policy design and implementation.\n\n\n Participants\n\nThe event will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders: \nGovernment Officials: Key leaders from ministries such as Finance\, Budget\, National Planning and various sectors who are responsible for shaping policies on fiscal governance\, technology\, and human capital development.\nAcademia and Researchers: Scholars and experts in economics\, artificial intelligence\, education\, and development studies\, contributing insights on how digital tools can strengthen fiscal efficiency and human capital growth.\nPrivate Sector: Industry leaders from technology\, finance\, and human capital development sectors\, whose innovations and investments are vital to Nigeria’s digital and economic transformation.\nInternational Organizations: Representatives from development partners such as the UN\, World Bank\, and AfDB\, supporting initiatives in digital inclusion\, human capital\, and governance reform.\nCivil Society Organizations: Advocacy and research-based groups focused on digital literacy\, economic inclusion\, and social development.\nMedia: Journalists and media houses covering governance\, technology\, and public policy issues. \n\n Previous Speakers at CEPDeR’s NBR and Policy Briefs\n\nPast editions of CEPDeR’s NBR have featured prominent policymakers\, academics\, and development practitioners exploring issues at the nexus of budgeting\, governance\, and sustainable development. These sessions have led to influential policy briefs that continue to inform national discourse on fiscal responsibility\, digital innovation\, and inclusive growth. \n\n Conclusion\n\nThe 2026 National Budget Roundtable provides a timely forum for reflection on how Nigeria’s fiscal strategy can evolve in an age defined by technological innovation and rapid change. \nBy bringing together experts and decision-makers to deliberate on the theme “National Budgeting\, Artificial Intelligence and Human Capital Development\,” CEPDeR aims to advance a national conversation on how the country’s budget can serve not only as a financial instrument but also as a driver of knowledge\, creativity\, and social transformation. \nAs Nigeria charts its course toward a more resilient and knowledge-based economy\, the insights emerging from NBR2026 will be instrumental in guiding policies that empower citizens\, modernize governance\, and position the nation for sustainable\, technology-enabled growth. \nRegister Here: https://bit.ly/CEPDeR2026NBR \nZoom details: https://covenantuniversity-edu-ng.zoom.us/j/85036304384?pwd=aE8NmzyK85SAroMpnUOtqKKje0oT2m.1 \nMEETING ID: 85036304384 \nPASSCODE: 495167 \n 
URL:https://cepder.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/event/cepders-national-budget-roundtable-panel-discussion-nbr2026/
LOCATION:CUCRID Auditorium\, Covenant University\, Canaanland\, Ota\, Ogun State\, Nigeria
ORGANIZER;CN="Covenant University CEPDeR":MAILTO:cepder@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260610
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260612
DTSTAMP:20260411T203653
CREATED:20260112T154553Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260410T143702Z
UID:1852-1781049600-1781222399@cepder.covenantuniversity.edu.ng
SUMMARY:2026 TAX CONFERENCE
DESCRIPTION:Tax Reforms Forum and Conference\n“Tax Policy in Green Future: Socio-Economic Implications for Developing Countries”\nCovenant University–CEPDER in collaboration with the Ota Parapo Chamber of Commerce\, Industry\, Mines and Agriculture (OPCCIMA) \nOverview \nNigeria’s tax landscape is undergoing significant reform. Recent legislative developments\, including the Nigerian Tax Administration Bill\, the National Tax Bill\, the Nigerian Revenue Service Bill\, and the Joint Revenue Board Bill\, have generated considerable public debate\, owing largely to gaps in public understanding of their policy intentions and implementation frameworks. \nLooking ahead\, the socio-economic landscape of most developing countries will demand deliberate\, forward-looking policy formulation and administration\, particularly within the Environmental\, Social and Governance (ESG) framework. Governments must be intentional in designing and implementing policies that address emerging challenges\, and this will require informed collaboration across all economic agents\, including both the private and public sectors. \nIt is against this backdrop that CEPDER\, in partnership withOPCCIMA\, is convening this Tax Forum and Conference to bring together key stakeholders for informed dialogue\, mutual enlightenment\, and the exchange of ideas on current tax policy issues and the future outlook for tax reform in Nigeria and across developing economies. \nObjectives of the tax forum and conference \n1. To provide a platform for discussing current tax policy reforms and their implications for the business community.\n2. To facilitate networking and the cross-fertilisation of ideas on Nigeria’s existing tax system.\n3. To create a forum for examining how tax policy reforms can address environmental challenges including climate change and pollution in support of a low-carbon economy and long-term business sustainability.\n4. To expose participants to strategic directions in tax policy that can accelerate climate action and stimulate productivity through enhanced private investment in research and skills development for socio-economic sustainability.\nForum and Conference Synopsis \n1. Overview of Nigeria’s existing tax system; challenges of tax compliance from the taxpayer’s perspective; and the socio-economic implications of current tax reform bills.\n2. Techniques and models of tax assessment in a competitive business environment.\n3. Fiscal considerations and the design of green tax reforms\, including empowerment programmes and equitable green tax policy with emphasis on wealth taxation\, progressive taxation\, and windfall profit taxes.\n4. The role of information technology in tax planning and administration.\nSubmissions should have clear relevance to developing economies\, particularly Nigeria and other emerging regions. \nThematic Areas \n• Green Taxation and Structural Economic Transformation\n• Climate Finance\, Public Revenue\, and SDG Alignment\n• Energy Transition and Carbon Pricing Mechanisms\n• Digitalisation and Green Fiscal Governance\n• Tax Reform\, Entrepreneurship\, and SME Development\n• Global Trade\, AfCFTA\, and Carbon Border Adjustments\n• Political Economy of Tax Reform and Employment\n• Taxation\, Agripreneurship\, and Food Security\n• Gender\, Vulnerability\, and Distributional Impacts\n• Comparative and Cross-Country Evidence\n• Green Infrastructure Financing and Fiscal Policy Design\nSubmission Guidelines \n• Abstracts should clearly state the research problem\, methodology\, and key contributions.\n• Submissions may be theoretical\, empirical\, or policy-focused.\n• Interdisciplinary approaches are strongly encouraged.\nTarget Audience \n• Academic researchers and postgraduate students\n• Policymakers and government agencies\n• International development organisations\n• Private sector stakeholders and entrepreneurs\n• Civil society and advocacy groups\n• Tax planners and consultants\nThe conference aims to: \n• Advance policy-relevant research on green taxation and fiscal sustainability\n• Foster collaboration between academia\, government\, and industry\n• Generate actionable insights for climate-resilient and inclusive development\n• Support evidence-based policymaking in developing countries\n\nLink for Abstract Submission: https://forms.gle/Xquu8zsVv2j3MYtF6 \n(All participants are required to register to attend the conference) \nRegister Here: https://forms.gle/1V1f9H7YK9Q8y4Bt5
URL:https://cepder.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/event/2026-tax-conference/
LOCATION:CUCRID Auditorium\, Covenant University\, Canaanland\, Ota\, Ogun State\, Nigeria
ORGANIZER;CN="Covenant University CEPDeR":MAILTO:cepder@covenantuniversity.edu.ng
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