People

Fikayo Akeredolu

BA, MA, MSc

Research Topic:

African Perception & Agency in Sino-African Relations
AFFILIATION
Government and Politics Network
College
St Antony's College
Course
DPhil Politics

I am researching African agency and perception in the Sino-African political and economic relationship. My research provides a framework for understanding African agency and decision-making when considering Chinese engagement as part of their development strategy.

I have a Masters in Contemporary Chinese Studies from the University of Oxford. My thesis research analysed African perception of Chinese Economic diplomacy with a focus on the activities of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in Nigeria. 

I have a Masters in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University in China, where I studied as a Schwarzman Scholar. My capstone project here focused on how Chinese firms like Huawei operate in Africa primarily as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. 

Before Oxford and Tsinghua, I worked as a Financial Products and Technology Growth expert in the Middle East, Europe, China and Africa. I worked at Bloomberg, Stears and Refinitiv (Now The London Stock Exchange Group). I also founded the Growth Network, a community of intelligent and like-minded people who want to understand how to survive and grow in the Nigerian business landscape.

I have worked as a research and policy analyst for Development Reimagined and the African Climate Foundation. 

When not working, I enjoy running, playing tennis, reading about business successes/failures and working on advancing the prospects of black women in the workplace.

Research

My research focuses on 

  • The Political Economy of African countries

  • Chinese Development and Economic Roadmap  

 

Awards & Scholarships

  • Schwarzman Scholarship 

  • Contemporary Chinese Studies OSGA Departmental Scholarship

  • Vice Chancellors Award for Academic Excellence (Durham University)

 

Languages

I speak English, Yoruba and Chinese Mandarin (HSK III).

 

Teaching Experience

Seminar Leader Politics of Policymaking - Blavatnik School of Government

 

Conference Presentation

Akeredolu, F. (2022). Nigeria’s #EndSARS Movement - How Nigeria’s Youth Diaspora Impacts Political Change. In: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA).