ICE Institute Engages in Continental Dialogue at the Manenga Ndulo Conference 2025
The Manenga Ndulo Conference on Economic Development, hosted by the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR), convened leading scholars, policymakers, and development practitioners in Lusaka, Zambia, from August 12–14, 2025. Held under the theme “Securing Africa’s Industrial and International Trade Situation Amidst Global Shifts,” the conference honoured Professor Manenga Ndulo, a distinguished economist and long-serving academic at the University of Zambia, whose over five decades of teaching and mentorship have shaped Zambia’s economic thought and regional policy practice. The gathering provided an engaging platform to deliberate on Africa’s industrialization pathways, trade integration, and the future of sustainable transformation across the continent.
Representing the ICE Institute, Ustad Abdikafi Hassan Abdi, presented an original research paper titled: “Human Capital Development, Digitalization, and Industrialization as Pathways to Economic Diversification in Transitioning African Economies.” His paper explored how investments in human capital, the adoption of digital technologies, and strategic industrial policies can serve as key drivers of diversification in economies that remain overly dependent on narrow export bases. Drawing from empirical evidence, his presentation demonstrated the linkages between workforce skills, digital infrastructure, and industrial upgrading, while revealing the necessity for African countries to foster resilient economic structures capable of withstanding global shifts.
The conference programme featured rich thematic sessions on trade, industry policy, macroeconomic management, socio-economic perspectives, and cross-cutting issues such as digitalization and welfare strategies. Distinguished participants included researchers from the University of Eduardo Mondlane, the University of Malawi, the University of Namibia, the University of Pretoria, the University of Zambia, Kwame Nkrumah University, and SIMAD University, alongside experts from development organizations such as ZIPAR, IDinsight, the Centre for Policy Dialogue, and Frontier Market Consultants. Senior policymakers, including the Governor of the Bank of Zambia, the Secretary to the Treasury, and the Economic Advisor to the President, enriched the discussions with their perspectives on the region’s economic outlook and policy imperatives.
ICE Institute’s participation in this prestigious conference reflects SIMAD University’s growing role in continental dialogues on industrialization and trade. Our evidence-based findings contribute not only to sustainable industrialization but also to resilient economic diversification and inclusive development across Africa. By engaging with leading African universities, development organizations, and high-level policymakers, ICE is reinforcing its mission of producing actionable research, shaping policy discourse, and building collaborative networks that drive Africa’s economic transformation.
