Sixtus Onyekwere

Sixtus is a postgraduate researcher currently immersed in his Ph.D. journey at the School of Area Studies, University of Portsmouth. His Ph.D. programme is generously supported by the esteemed ESRC South Coast DTP fully funded Studentship Award. Sixtus's Ph.D. research delves into a crucial topic: "Exploring ways of preventing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, focusing on the intersection of the Covid-19 pandemic and displacements." In his investigation, he is meticulously evaluating the role of external assistance from NGOs and internal support from local communities in finding lasting solutions. This work not only underscores his dedication to understanding and alleviating the challenges faced by vulnerable populations but also represents a significant step in his mission to drive positive change and make a difference. His fascination with this research area stems from his extensive background in international development issues, as evidenced by his MSc degree in International Development

In his previous role as a Research Associate at a Think Tank  in Nigeria (Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa), he gained invaluable real-world research experiences by collaborating on many development research projects in Africa around education, gender, and youth empowerment. Some of the projects he worked on were research projects funded by FCDO, UK  (RISE Project), such as  Learning Trajectories  and Surveys of Enacted Curriculum . His diverse background equips him with a holistic perspective in his research endeavours, making him a promising scholar in the field of International Development.

Sixtus started his PhD journey in October 2023 through a studentship award from the ESRC. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Portsmouth in BA (Hons) Economics and Management in 2016 and was awarded first-class honours. After his graduation, he moved back to Nigeria and worked as a research assistant in the economics department at Federal University, Wukari, for about a year. Later, he transitioned to a college, where he not only headed the Social Sciences Department but also lectured on Economics and Business modules. During his tenure at the college, he pursued the MSc International Development degree through distance learning at the University of Portsmouth, completing it with a distinction in 2021.

After completing his  MSc, he joined a Think Tank in Nigeria, the "Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA)" as a research associate in January 2022, where he spent two years working on different development research projects across Africa such as,  the Research on Improving Systems of Education (RISE) project in Nigeria, led by the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government, the Mastercard Foundation's Education-to-Work transition project for African youth ( covering seven African countries - Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Kenya), and the Women in Trade (WiT) project, funded by Trade Facilitation Office Canada, covering five African countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and Senegal)

Sixtus is  interested in research that sheds light on the challenges that confront development in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on issues such as:

• Conflict and Gender
• Gender Inequality & Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
• Development Aid Delivery & NGO Effectiveness
• Human Capital Development (education, income, health)