Nigeria’s Engagement with the BRICS Alliance: Trade, Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy Directions
Mr. Oluwatomisin J. Oyewole
Building a stronger bridge between scholarship and public policy
Non-Residential Fellowship Programme
The NESG Non-Residential Fellowship Programme serves as a knowledge hub for development policy issues, bringing together distinguished intellectuals from academia, research-based institutions and the private sector to support the research and advocacy work of the NESG.
The Fellowship attracts Senior Fellows with strong research skills, subject-matter expertise and relevant experience, and a commitment to advancing the NESG's mandate of promoting a competitive economy and sustainable economic development in Nigeria through evidence-based policy research and advocacy.
Inside NRFP
What the programme is built for
A long-horizon fellowship for policy-relevant research.
NRFP brings together Senior Fellows, faculty, and research outputs that strengthen evidence-based policymaking in Nigeria.
Programme duration
24 months
Time commitment
5-8 hrs/week
Policy briefs
3 outputs
Thematic areas
3 tracks
The current Cohort 3 application appears later on this page, after the programme overview, themes, and eligibility context.
Programme overview
A fellowship built for seasoned thinkers shaping better policy.
The Fellowship attracts Senior Fellows with strong research skills, subject-matter expertise and relevant experience, and a commitment to advancing the NESG's mandate of promoting a competitive economy and sustainable economic development in Nigeria through evidence-based policy research and advocacy.
Programme in action
The Fellowship is designed around discussion, critique, writing, and practical policy exchange.
What applicants should expect
- Non-residential structure designed for working experts.
- Research, writing, and advocacy outputs over 24 months.
- Clear thematic focus areas for stronger applications.
- A Cohort 3 application flow introduced later on the page.
Programme duration
24 months
A two-year, non-residential research fellowship.
Time commitment
5-8 hrs/week
Average weekly contribution expected from each Senior Fellow.
Policy briefs
3 outputs
Each Fellow is expected to produce three policy briefs.
Thematic areas
3 tracks
Human capital, macro-labour, and agro-industrial systems.
Past cohort outputs
Earlier fellows have already produced the kind of policy work this programme is known for.
Review the archive first, then move into the current Cohort 3 opportunity. The tabs below separate selected work from Cohort 1 and Cohort 2.
Selected works
Selected earlier archive outputs drawn from the legacy NRFP page to show the range and seriousness of work already produced through the programme.
See all Cohort 1 members
6 works
Exchange Rate Misalignment and Economic Growth in Nigeria
Dr. Mutiu Abimbola Oyinlola
Framing Nigeria’s Energy Transition Strategy: Imperative of an Overarching Policy Direction
Dr. Obinna Chris Dike
The Imperatives for Monetary-Fiscal Alignment in Nigeria and Pathways to Improved Policy Coordination
Dr. Babatunde Omotosho
Thematic areas
Cohort 3 research is anchored on three priority tracks.
Applicants should position their research profile and statement of purpose under one of the thematic areas below.
Track 1
HCDHuman Capital Development
Advance practical policy ideas that improve health outcomes, education quality, skills formation, and the efficiency of public spending on people.
Focus areas
- Investment in the Health Sector
- Investment in Education and Skills
- Fiscal efficiency in human capital spending
Track 2
Macro & LabourMacroeconomics and Labour Market
Explore how macroeconomic stability, labour-force participation, and livelihoods can be strengthened through evidence-led reforms.
Focus areas
- Investment in Labour Force Participation & Livelihoods
Track 3
Agro & Food SystemsAgro-Industrial Transformation & Food Systems
Support policy thinking on food systems, agricultural transformation, and implementation priorities that strengthen resilience and productivity.
Focus areas
- Implementing the National Livestock Master Plan (N-LMP)
Cohort 3 applications
If the programme fits your profile, this is where the current call begins.
Cohort 3 focuses on three thematic areas and invites experienced researchers and policy professionals to apply with clear evidence of fit, writing strength, and policy relevance.
Submission deadline
August 12, 2026
The current call is open only to residents of Nigeria.
- Passport photograph
- Updated curriculum vitae (CV)
- At least one recent research work or supporting publication
- Statement of purpose showing your expertise and intended contribution
- Signed applicant declaration
Why this call carries weight
Past fellows have already produced serious work on governance, trade, gender, digital public infrastructure, and food systems. That legacy is part of what makes the current call credible.
Community snapshot
The current fellowship archive highlights a growing community of Senior Fellows and Faculty members drawn from academia, research-based institutions, and the private sector.
View fellows, faculty, and outputsEligibility
Designed for experienced researchers and policy thinkers.
The programme is open to PhD holders in the sciences, social sciences, and management sciences with at least five years of experience in research or development.
MSc holders with at least eight years of relevant experience may also apply.
Applicants must demonstrate strong proficiency in written and spoken English, including good writing skills and the ability to produce clear, structured, and analytical outputs.
The programme is open only to residents of Nigeria.
Applicants should be able to commit an average of 5-8 hours per week to Fellowship activities.
Applicants must demonstrate commitment to advancing the NESG's mandate through evidence-based research and advocacy.
Applicants must be willing to contribute fully to the deliverables of the programme.
Previous participants in the NESG NRFP are not eligible to apply.
1
Application timeline
Applications open
Cohort 3 is currently receiving applications from eligible candidates resident in Nigeria.
2
Application timeline
Submission deadline
All applications and supporting materials must be submitted by August 12, 2026.
3
Application timeline
Review and shortlisting
Applications will be screened after the deadline based on fit, experience, and writing strength.
4
Application timeline
Cohort onboarding
Successful Senior Fellows will be contacted with the next steps for onboarding and programme delivery.
Videos
Use the video library to understand the tone and ambition of the programme.
Featured video
Cohort 3 spotlight: Human Capital Development
A featured video introducing one of the priority tracks for the third cohort.
Meet The NESG's NRFP Fellows
Click to open the recording on YouTube for previous NRFP storytelling and programme context.
NRFP Closing Ceremony
Click to open the recording on YouTube for previous NRFP storytelling and programme context.
Impact of NESG NRFP Cohort 2 Fellows
Click to open the recording on YouTube for previous NRFP storytelling and programme context.
Contact and CTA
Ready to shape evidence-based policy conversations in Nigeria?
Submit your application before August 12, 2026. For inquiries, contact seniorfellows@nesgroup.org.
Senior Fellows featured
22+
Faculty members highlighted
5
Sample outputs on archive
8+