Dr Yakubu A Yakubu (Ph.D., MSc, MA, PGP-DSBA, CMEPM)
Yakubu A. Yakubu is an Economist, Applied Statistician and Data Scientist, with interests in Macroeconomics and Finance, Econometrics and Statistical modeling, Debt Sustainability, Macro-prudential Policies and Financial Stability. Yakubu holds a PhD from Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Cape Town South Africa, MSc in Statistical Sciences from University of the Western Cape in Cape Town South Africa, MA in Economic Policy Management from the University of Ghana (UG) Legon, PGP in Data Science and Business Analytics (with Distinction /Cum Laude) from University of Texas (UT) USA, BCom in Economics and Mathematical Statistics (Fort Hare University) in Alice South Africa, and Diploma in Statistics from the University of Ghana (UG) Legon. He also has many certificates including CMEPM (with Distinction/Cum Laude) from Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa.
Yakubu is the Founder of Africa DATA Reporting and Training Institute (AfriDATA Reporting Solutions Pty incorporated in South Africa in 2013 and in Ghana in 2021). Currently, he is the Executive Director, Chief Researcher and Senior Economist in same firm. The Institute has a strong team of top-notch professionals and academics who are consultants in their respective fields in both qualitative and quantitative studies. As a researcher, Yakubu has published extensively in several international reputable journals including International Journal of Social Economics under Emerald. He has also presented papers in both local international conferences including the International Statistical Institute (ISI). As part of his contribution to the community, Yakubu was the Treasurer for the Population Association of Southern Africa (PASA) from 2011-12. He is the first recipient of PASA Best Poster Award (2009). Currently, he is also a Visiting Research Fellow to the Central University of Technology in South Africa where he co-supervises Doctoral students in Entrepreneurship and Management Sciences. His works produced over ten (10) peer-reviewed papers in reputable international journals. He also received scholarships including the Stats SA Postgraduate Bursary for MSc, and CPUT URF for PhD research.
As part of his research and academic experience journey, Yakubu was a Researcher after a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, and an Economics Lecturer at the Graduate Centre for Management (GCM) from 05/2020 – 06/2023 at the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Cape Town South Africa. He chaired the Research Committee at GCM, and mentored students in both research and economics. Yakubu was actively involved in writing the department’s grants applications and worked on the South Africa’s Bank SETA funded Project. Prior to this, Yakubu was an Ag. Head of Biostatistics Department in the University of Health Allied Sciences in Ho, Ghana.
Dr Yakubu’s works focus on Economics, Statistics, Development, Environment, Health, Impact Evaluation and Entrepreneurship. He provides technical support and consulting services to individuals and organizations on mainstreaming the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) into development planning.
Working as an Ag. Director of Research and M&E at the Northern Development Authority, Yakubu led the activities in the directorate of research, monitoring and evaluation. His tasks among others, involved leading the M&E team including the consultants in the design of the M&E Framework and its implementation. Yakubu was also active in the development coordination role in the Zone and in the supervision that recouped over GHc 5 million (USD 1.2M) in 2014/15 from investments in agricultural and housing projects. Last but not the least; Yakubu was actively involved in the UNDP technical working activities for the compilation of the Savannah Zone’s Human Development Report in 2016.
At the South African National Office of Statistics (Stats SA), where Yakubu was a Senior Survey Statistician, he served as a Provincial/Regional Survey Statistician and worked in the following capacities: Data Analyst for Census 2011, Field Officer for Labour Force Survey (QLFS), Ag. Information services officer for Stakeholder relations/User requests, Ag. Coordinator for Human Capacity Development, where he coordinated all trainings for staff development in the province, Member of Technical and/or organising committees on statistical development including Young African Statisticians Summit (YASC), Africa Symposia on Statistical Development (ASSD), and the International Statistical Institute (ISI2009).
Yakubu is a self-motivated, creative and critical thinking individual with good interpersonal, communication, and organisational skills, and demonstrated leadership skills. Yakubu is flexible, an achiever of goals. He is able to work well in a multi-cultural environment appreciating diversity and respect for gender, and he has considerable information management and extensive analytical skills transferrable to numerous fields of endeavours. He adapts quickly to the flow of new information and ideas in a multi-disciplinary environment with substantial work and management experience in Research, Economic and Statistical Development in Africa.
Dr Yakubu’s current project is on Green Innovation, Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Economic Growth and Monetary Policy response in Sub-Saharan Africa.