chigozie-emmanuel-okonkwo Chigozie Emmanuel Okonkwo

Biography

Chigozie Emmanuel Okonkwo is a distinguished international development professional with extensive expertise in Education and Skills Policy development, labour mobility, and Qualifications Frameworks across Africa. As an Education and Skills Advisor at the African Union Commission, he has been instrumental in leading the development of the continental TVET strategy, the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF), and crucial tools designed to enhance the recognition and portability of qualifications across borders. His contributions extend to providing strategic support for the AU Support Mechanism for TVET Strategy Implementation and serving as the Cluster Coordinator for the Continental Education Strategy for Africa - Higher Education Cluster. He also provides technical assistance for the Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) program and supports the Skills Component of the Joint Labour Migration Program, focusing on the recognition of prior learning, skill portability, and migration governance.

Mr Okonkwo's diverse background encompasses training and professional experiences in both the private and public sectors, equipping him with a well-rounded perspective on educational development. His core competencies include Education Policy & Strategy, TVET Systems Reform, Skills Development, Labour Migration & Skills Mobility, Qualifications Frameworks, Quality Assurance & Accreditation, Programme Management, Stakeholder Engagement, International Partnerships, Policy Communication, and Monitoring & Evaluation. He holds a Master of Education in Comparative Education with Distinction from Zhejiang Normal University, where his thesis focused on 'Students Mobility and its Influence on Regional Integration of Higher Education in Africa'. His thought leadership is further demonstrated through publications such as 'The Challenges, Pragmatic Justification and more Effective Ways of Implementing the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (2016 - 2025)' and 'The Dragon’s Deal: Educational Development and Knowledge Sharing in China-Africa Cooperation'.