Experience of CEPDeR’s Research Assistant
Lao Tzu said, ‘the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step’. I cannot state of a fact that my career journey began from the Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDaR) but, I can prove beyond reasonable doubt that my path has been made brighter and better.
From the 1st of December 2020, when I got the placement as a CEPDeR Intern (Research Assistant), I have learnt a lot-what drives the vision and mission of the Centre. With that understanding, I have been able to work effectively with the CEPDeR team and contribute immensely to the assignments I was given periodically.
The experience gained during the four months internship, have expanded my technical skills in carrying out research works such as learning how to customise emails through settings, the use of tracking system on Microsoft Word to track corrections. Also, I learnt the application and use of Grammarly to make corrections, knowing more journal platforms where I can derive good journals for paperwork, referencing and editing options that can best be applied in research work and finally how best to write a blog story for academia. It expanded my knowledge in matters arising in the Nigerian economy, improve my research and writing skills, provoked my intuition to contribute better to the research works given me, learned what and how it means to be repertoire and more.
With the guidance of the pioneer Chair (Prof Evans Osabuohien), I have managed time and resources to deliver on a timely basis. I have gained a better understanding of how to approach my work. I have contributed to writing of the following; CEPDeR Annual National Budget Roundtable and Panel Discussion (NBR) Policy Brief; a report on how the Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Equipment Subsidy Grant was relevant to CEPDeR’s operation; Governance and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Solutions for a Developing Economy in a Post-Covid World; Biomass Energy: Clean Fuels for Domestic Use and Institutional Framework in Africa; Budget Implementation Constraints; among others.
In conclusion, my passion for working at CEPDeR enabled me to suggest some additives on the website, making it more relatable, connecting the readers and making it more efficient. Also, being an inaugurated CEPDeR Fellow has enabled me to work with other fellows to receive numerous information usually posted on the platform. It was a great experience working with Prof Evans Osabuohien (Pioneer Chair), Current Chair (Dr Obindah Gershon) and the rest of the team. All I have to say, is I am most grateful for the opportunity to learn at your erudite feet. Great heights and God bless.
