About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
Named in honour of Mr Christopher Edordu, the founding President of Afreximbank, the competition provides a prestigious platform for master’s and PhD students to produce original, evidence-based research with real policy impact. The top three winners will receive prizes of up to USD 20,000, alongside continental recognition and the opportunity to present their research at a major Afreximbank event.
About the Afreximbank–Edordu Research Competition
The Afreximbank–Edordu Research Competition is an initiative of the Bank’s Research Department and Creative and Diaspora Department. It was established to preserve the intellectual legacy of Christopher Edordu, whose visionary leadership laid the foundation for one of Africa’s most influential financial institutions.
Rather than rewarding academic research alone, the competition seeks ideas that address pressing challenges facing Africa and the Caribbean. Participants are encouraged to develop practical policy recommendations capable of strengthening regional trade, financial integration, industrialisation, and sustainable economic growth under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Competition Objectives
The programme is designed to cultivate a new generation of African and Caribbean scholars committed to advancing evidence-based solutions for economic transformation.
Its key objectives include:
Promoting African-led research grounded in local realities and priorities.
Generating actionable policy frameworks that support AfCFTA implementation.
Encouraging postgraduate scholars to engage critically with trade and development challenges.
Preserving and extending the intellectual legacy of Christopher Edordu through rigorous academic inquiry.
The competition is open to currently enrolled postgraduate students studying at recognised tertiary institutions in
African countries
Participating CARICOM states
Both Master’s and PhD candidates are eligible to submit original research papers.
To promote linguistic inclusivity, submissions are accepted in six languages:
English
French
Arabic
Portuguese
Spanish
Kiswahili
This multilingual approach enables scholars from diverse academic communities to participate without language barriers
How to apply